wamus

[ waw-muhs, wom-uhs ]

noun

, plural wa·mus·es.

1. a heavy cardigan jacket, loosely knit and belted.
2. Also a durable, coarse, outer jacket.

Word History and Origins

Origin of wamus¹

1795–1805, Americanism; < Dutch wammes (compare German Wams vest, undershirt), Middle Dutch wambuis < dialectal Old French wambois < Frankish *wamb- belly ( womb ) + French -ois -ese; gambeson

Example Sentences

At last he put his muffled mouth to my ear and shouted through the cape of his wamus.

From Project Gutenberg

A loose, woollen wamus, the product of the settlements, served in lieu of shirt and coat.

From Project Gutenberg

Jeff emerges like Diana from the bath an' frales the wamus off me with a club.

From Project Gutenberg