shirt

[shurt]

noun

1. a long- or short-sleeved garment for the upper part of the body, usually lightweight and having a collar and a front opening.

2. an undergarment of cotton, or other material, for the upper part of the body.

3. a shirtwaist.

4. a nightshirt.

shirt

/ ʃɜːt /

noun

1. a garment worn on the upper part of the body, esp by men, usually of light material and typically having a collar and sleeves and buttoning up the front

2. short for nightshirt undershirt

3. informal,  refrain from losing your temper (often used as an exhortation to another)

4. informal,  to bet all one has on (a horse, etc)

5. informal,  to lose all one has on (a horse, etc)

Other Word Forms

• shirtless adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of shirt¹

before 1150; Middle English schirte, Old English scyrte; cognate with German Schürze, Dutch schort apron, Old Norse skyrta skirt

Word History and Origins

Origin of shirt¹

Old English scyrte; related to Old English sceort _short , Old Norse skyrta skirt, Middle High German schurz apron

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. in one's shirt sleeves, without a coat: Also in one's shirt-sleeves.

   It was so hot that they worked in their shirt sleeves.

2. lose one's shirt, to lose all that one possesses; suffer a severe financial reverse.

   He lost his shirt in the stock market.

3. keep one's shirt on, to refrain from becoming angry or impatient; remain calm.

   Tell him to keep his shirt on until we're ready.

see give the shirt off one's back; hair shirt; keep one's shirt on; lose one's shirt; stuffed shirt.

Example Sentences

Some of the earliest were unlined and so slightly constructed they had the feel of a linen shirt.

From Los Angeles Times

An image with his likeness, which appeared to show him wearing a white, short-sleeved shirt, appeared on the fast-fashion website until its removal.

From BBC

There are dozens of her favored shirt form, each made from the same sewing pattern in colors ranging anywhere from beige to a deep magenta.

From Los Angeles Times

"We'll have those discreet conversations with individuals just to say 'if you need five shirts, come and take them'."

From BBC

Anderson, who describes himself as “anti-fashion,” is wearing the same uniform he’s worn for the better part of two decades: an impeccably cut shirt and a pair of tight cocktail trousers.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• blouse 
• jersey 
• pullover 
• tunic 
• turtleneck