nightshirtn.
/ˈnʌɪtʃəːt/, U.S. /ˈnaɪtˌʃərt/ A long shirt or loose garment worn in bed.Originally worn by men, but now worn by both sexes.
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the world > textiles and clothing > clothing > types or styles of clothing > clothing for body or trunk (and limbs) > [noun] > shirt > types of > night shirt
nightshirt1657
shirt1681
night shift1690
sleep-coat1948
1657 R. Verney Let. in M. M. Verney Mem. Verney Family Commonwealth (1894) ix. 306 If hee weare his night sheirts when hee goes into company, neither he nor they can be commended.
1682 T. D'Urfey Royalist ii. ii. 20 Sirrah, pull off his Breeches, and put him on a night Shirt.
1739 H. Baker & J. Miller School for Wives i. iv. 131 I'm making my self some Head-clothes. Your Night-shirts and Caps are done.
1847 R. Anderson Let. 3 Oct. in Artillery Officer in Mexican War (1911) 318 I am still compelled to wear my night-shirts, as they only are sufficiently large for me to put on and off with any comfort.
1857 T. Hughes Tom Brown's School Days i. iii. 74 One of the ushers..caught the performer in his night-shirt.
1891 Spectator 3 Jan. 3/2 One man was denuded of his night-shirt.
1915 W. S. Maugham Of Human Bondage ciii. 543 The others crowded round the big window in their pyjamas and night-shirts.
1952 Good Housek. (U.S. ed.) Dec. 220/2 (advt.) A trio of nightshirts in 3-alarm-red flannelette for Mr., Master, and Miss.
1998 B. Elton Blast from Past (1999) xiv. 86 Polly was about to remove her nightshirt and put on the dress when the front door buzzer buzzed.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2003; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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