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Gown
A gown, from the Saxon word, gunna, is a usually loose outer garment from knee- to full-length worn by men and women in Europe from the Early Middle Ages to the 17th century, and continuing today in certain professions; later, gown was applied to any full-length woman’s garment consisting of a bodice and attached skirt. A long, loosely fitted gown called a Banyan was worn by men in the 18th century as an informal coat.
The gowns worn today by academics, judges, and some clergy derive directly from the everyday garments worn by their medieval predecessors, formalized into a uniform in the course of the 16th and 17th centuries.
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Gown (noun)
A loose, flowing upper garment.
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Gown (noun)
A woman’s ordinary outer dress, such as a calico or silk gown.
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Gown (noun)
The official robe of certain professional men and scholars, such as university students and officers, barristers, judges, etc.
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Gown (noun)
The university community.
“In the perennial town versus gown battles, townies win some violent battles, but the collegians are winning the war.”
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Gown (noun)
A loose wrapper worn by gentlemen within doors; a dressing gown.
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Gown (noun)
Any sort of dress or garb.
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Gown (noun)
The robe worn by a surgeon.
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Gown (verb)
To dress in a gown, to don or garb with a gown.
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Gawn (noun)
A small tub or lading vessel.
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Gawn (verb)
Eye dialect spelling of certain regional pronunciations of going.
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Gown (noun)
a long elegant dress worn on formal occasions
“a silk ball gown”
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Gown (noun)
a dressing gown.
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Gown (noun)
a protective garment worn in hospital, either by a staff member during surgery or by a patient.
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Gown (noun)
a loose cloak indicating one’s profession or status, worn by a lawyer, teacher, academic, or university student.
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Gown (noun)
the members of a university as distinct from the permanent residents of the university town.
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Gown (verb)
be dressed in a gown
“she was gowned in luminous silk”
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Gown (verb)
put on a surgical gown
“the lab is supposed to be sterile, so you have to gown up”