gown
Noun · VerbOpen English WordNet
Noun (5)gowns
- a woman's dress, usually with a close-fitting bodice and a long flared skirt, often worn on formal occasionsType of dress, frockKinds tea gown, dinner dress, bridal gown, ball gown, mantuaParts train
- the members of a university as distinguished from the other residents of the town in which the university is located“the relations between town and gown are always sensitive”Type of university
- lingerie consisting of a loose dress designed to be worn in bed by womenSynonyms: nightgownnightienight-robenightdressType of lingerie, nightwearParts nightcap
- protective garment worn by surgeons during operationsSynonyms: surgical gownscrubsType of garment
- outerwear consisting of a long flowing garment used for official or ceremonial occasionsSynonyms: robeType of outerwear, overclothesKinds vestment, academic gown
What does it mean? Question 1 of today’s quiz
Webster's Dictionary (1913)
Origin: OE. goune, prob. from W. gwn gown, loose robe, akin to Ir. gunn, Gael. gùn; cf. OF. gone, prob. of the same origin.
1. A loose, flowing upper garment; especially: (a) The ordinary outer dress of a woman, especially one that is full-length/ex>. (b) The official robe of certain professional men and scholars, as university students and officers, barristers, judges, etc.; hence, the dress of peace; the dress of civil officers, in distinction from military.
He Mars deposed, and arms to gowns made yield.— John Dryden
(c) A loose wrapper worn by gentlemen within doors; a dressing gown.
2. Any sort of dress or garb.
He comes... in the gown of humility.— William Shakespeare
3. An evening gown.
4. The students and faculty of a college and university, as opposed to the local inhabitants not connected to the university; — used often in the phrase “town and gown”, referring to interactions between the university and the local townspeople; as, a town and gown dispute.
Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913), from GCIDE 0.54 · with additions: GCIDE editors