blouse

 
Pronunciation: /ˈblaʊz/

noun

  • a woman’s upper garment resembling a shirt, typically with a collar, buttons, and sleeves.
  • a loose linen or cotton garment formerly worn by peasants and manual workers, typically belted at the waist.
  • a type of jacket worn as part of military uniform.

verb

[with object and adverbial]
  • make (a garment) hang in loose folds: I bloused my trousers over my boots

Phrases

big girl's blouse

British informal a weak, cowardly, or oversensitive man: no matter how a lad feels, it’s just not the done thing to display his emotions—he might be accused of being a big girl’s blouse

Origin:

early 19th century (denoting a belted loose garment worn by peasants): from French, of unknown origin