chemise

Meanings

1. 1nouncountableold-fashioned

   A loose, light undergarment or nightdress worn next to the skin.

   Grammar: Singular noun for one garment: a silk chemise.

   Patterns

   • a chemise of something

   She slept in a cotton chemise during the summer.

   The shop sells silk chemises and robes.

   Under the gown she wore a lace-trimmed chemise.

2. 2nouncountabletechnical

   A simple, straight dress that hangs loosely from the shoulders without a defined waist.

   Grammar: In fashion, also called a shift or sack dress.

   Patterns

   • a chemise dress

   The chemise dress was popular in the 1920s.

   She chose a linen chemise for the beach.

   The designer revived the chemise in autumn.

3. 3nouncountableold-fashioned

   In history, a plain linen garment worn under clothes by both men and women.

   Grammar: Historical sense only.

   Medieval peasants wore a chemise under their tunics.

   The museum displays a linen chemise from the 1700s.

   Actors in the play wore chemises to suit the period.

Word forms

Common combinations

silk chemise

She bought a silk chemise for the trip.

linen chemise

A linen chemise stays cool.

lace chemise

A lace chemise hung on the line.

chemise dress

She wore a chemise dress with a belt.

Synonyms and how they differ

slip

Slip is a smooth undergarment worn under a dress and is the more common modern word.

shift

Shift is a straight dress or old undergarment and is more formal.

nightgown

Nightgown is only for sleeping and is longer than a chemise.

camisole

Camisole covers only the top half of the body, unlike the longer chemise.

Word family

chemisette noun

a small piece of lace filling a low neckline

shirt noun

a garment for the upper body

camise noun

old variant of chemise

Commonly confused: chemise or chemist?

Practice

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