smock n : a loose coverall (coat or frock) reaching down to the ankles [syn: duster, gaberdine, gabardine, dust coat] v : embellish by sewing in lines crossing each other diagonally; "The folk dancers wore smocked shirts"

English

Etymology

From smoc; akin to Old High German smocho, Icelandic smokkr, and from the root of Old English smgan "to creep", akin to German schmiegen "to cling to", "press close". Middle High German smiegen, Icelandic smjga "to creep through", "to put on a garment which has a hole to put the head through"; compare with Lithuanian smukti "to glide". See also smug, smuggle.

Pronunciation

• Rhymes with: -ɒk

Noun

1. A woman's undergarment; a shift; a chemise.

   In her smock, with head and foot all bare. Chaucer.

2. A blouse.
3. A loose garment worn as protection by a painter, etc.

Translations

• ttbc Italian: blusa

Adjective

1. Of or pertaining to a smock; resembling a smock
2. Hence, of or pertaining to a woman.

Derived terms

• smock mill
• smock race

Verb

1. To provide with, or clothe in, a smock or a smock frock. Tennyson.
2. To apply smocking.

References

Smock may refer to one of the following:

• Smock-frock A coatlike outer garment, often worn to protect the clothes
• Smocking is an embroidery technique in which the fabric is gathered with thread or embroidery floss, then embroidered with decorative stitches to hold the gathers in place.
• Chemise, a woman's undergarment
• A Smock mill, a windmill with a wooden tower, resembling the garment in appearance.