Gown

Gown

A gown, from medieval Latin 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.

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Famous quotes containing the word gown:

    Find out the peaceful hermitage,
    The hairy gown and mossy cell,
    Where I may sit and rightly spell
    Of every star that heaven doth show,
    And every herb that sips the dew;
    Till old experience do attain
    To something like prophetic strain.
    These pleasures Melancholy give,
    And I with thee will choose to live.
    John Milton (1608–1674)

    Mr. Doctor, that loose gown becomes you so well I wonder your notions should be so narrow.
    Elizabeth I (1533–1603)

    GOETHE, raised o’er joy and strife,
    Drew the firm lines of Fate and Life,
    And brought Olympian wisdom down
    To court and mar, to gown and town,
    Stooping, his finger wrote in clay
    The open secret of to-day.
    Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–1882)