tunic

[ too-nik, tyoo- ]

noun

1. Chiefly British. a coat worn as part of a military or other uniform.
2. a gownlike outer garment, with or without sleeves and sometimes belted, worn by the ancient Greeks and Romans.
3. a woman's upper garment, either loose or close-fitting and extending over the skirt to the hips or below.
4. a garment with a short skirt, worn by women for sports.
5. Ecclesiastical. a tunicle.
6. Anatomy, Zoology. any covering or investing membrane or part, as of an organ.
7. Botany. an integument, as that covering a seed.

tunic

/ ˈtjuːnɪk /

noun

1. any of various hip-length or knee-length garments, such as the loose sleeveless garb worn in ancient Greece or Rome, the jacket of some soldiers, or a woman's hip-length garment, worn with a skirt or trousers
2. anatomy botany zoology a covering, lining, or enveloping membrane of an organ or part See also tunica
3. RC Church another word for tunicle

Other Words From

• sub·tunic noun
• super·tunic noun
• under·tunic noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of tunic¹

before 900; (< French tunique ) < Latin tunica; perhaps also continuing Old English tunece, tunica < Latin

Word History and Origins

Origin of tunic¹

Old English tunice (unattested except in the accusative case), from Latin tunica

Example Sentences

As the kids ran up and down the pitch, their traditional long pants and tunics mixed with flashy, donated jackets and sneakers stamped with American logos.

From Time

The technique is not native to these communities, but the designs draw from ones long used for huipils, the traditional tunics worn in the region since pre-Columbian times.

From Washington Post

The typical habit for a nun was a, “long-sleeved tunic, reaching the floor and no décolleté, showing,” Campagnol says.

From The Daily Beast

Then Foley was shown on his knees, his body erect—even proud—clad in an orange tunic with no collar, and his head shaved.

From The Daily Beast

In Luke, he says, “Take nothing for your journey, no staff, bag, bread, or money – not even an extra tunic” (Luke 9:3).

From The Daily Beast

He officiates over the rite in purple stole over a simple tunic.

From The Daily Beast

According to Bissonnette, bin Laden was wearing a sleeveless white T-shirt, loose tan pants, and a tan tunic.

From The Daily Beast

Even with his tunic ripped down the front, he gave the impression of making it his life business to be neat.

From Project Gutenberg

He had been buried in the vestments peculiar to his office, viz., the alb and tunic.

From Project Gutenberg

Down below, Sara Lee sat with Henri's ragged tunic on her lap and stitched carefully.

From Project Gutenberg

Henri did not appear, though she had sent what she suspected was his only tunic back to him neatly mended at five o'clock.

From Project Gutenberg

From his neck to his heels he was smeared with mud, and his tidy tunic was torn into ragged holes.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• blouse
• coat
• jacket
• robe