shirtwaist \shirtwaist\, Shirt waist \Shirt waist\ [shirt + waist; see {waist[3]}, n.] 1. A woman's blouse resembling a men's shirt in cut and style; -- in England called a {blouse}. [Webster 1913 Suppl. +PJC] 2. a type of woman's dress with a bodice tailored like a shirt; -- also called {shirt dress}, {shirtwaist dress}, and {shirtwaister}. --[RHUD] [PJC]
Blouse \Blouse\ (blouz; F. bl[=oo]z), n. [F. blouse. Of unknown origin.] A light, loose over-garment, like a smock frock, worn especially by workingmen in France; also, a loose coat of any material, as the undress uniform coat of the United States army. [1913 Webster]