shirt

[ shurt ]

noun

1. a long- or short-sleeved garment for the upper part of the body, usually lightweight and having a collar and a front opening.
2. an undergarment of cotton, or other material, for the upper part of the body.
3. a shirtwaist.
4. a nightshirt.

shirt

/ ʃɜːt /

noun

1. a garment worn on the upper part of the body, esp by men, usually of light material and typically having a collar and sleeves and buttoning up the front
2. short for nightshirt undershirt
3. keep your shirt on informal.
   refrain from losing your temper (often used as an exhortation to another)
4. put one's shirt on informal.
   to bet all one has on (a horse, etc)
5. lose one's shirt on informal.
   to lose all one has on (a horse, etc)

Other Words From

• shirtless adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of shirt¹

before 1150; Middle English schirte, Old English scyrte; cognate with German Schürze, Dutch schort apron, Old Norse skyrta skirt

Word History and Origins

Origin of shirt¹

Old English scyrte; related to Old English sceort short , Old Norse skyrta skirt, Middle High German schurz apron

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. in one's shirt sleeves, without a coat: Also in one's shirt-sleeves.

   It was so hot that they worked in their shirt sleeves.

2. keep one's shirt on, Informal. to refrain from becoming angry or impatient; remain calm:

   Tell him to keep his shirt on until we're ready.

3. lose one's shirt, Informal. to lose all that one possesses; suffer a severe financial reverse:

   He lost his shirt in the stock market.

More idioms and phrases containing shirt

see give the shirt off one's back ; hair shirt ; keep one's shirt on ; lose one's shirt ; stuffed shirt .

Example Sentences

“Every time Chad loses his shirt, have a sip of wine, beer or eat a cookie,” he laughs over Zoom, as one hand brushes his golden strands behind his ear.

From Los Angeles Times

Biceps bulging out of a sleeveless shirt, sweaty scalp wrapped in a white bandana, plastered fingers on his left hand gripping a racquet.

From BBC

Chastain ripped off her shirt, her sports bra on show, and dropped to her knees screaming as her team-mates ran towards her.

From BBC

An “intriguing stranger” with a Caesar-style haircut, a mustard shirt and Beatles boots, Bono, then 27, had been a songwriter since his teens.

From Los Angeles Times

It’s the pain of losing a favorite shirt, the remorse of giving something away too soon or the release of donating once-loved garments, offering them to new people and new perspectives.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• blouse
• jersey
• pullover
• tunic
• turtleneck