shirt

Definition

An article of clothing that is worn on the upper part of the body, and often has sleeves, either long or short, that cover the arms.

Etymology

From Middle English sherte, shurte, schirte, from Old English sċyrte (“a short garment; skirt; kirtle”), from Proto-West Germanic *skurtijā, from Proto-Germanic *skurtijǭ (“a short garment, skirt, apron”), from *skurtaz (“short”). Cognate with Saterland Frisian Schoarte (“apron”), Dutch schort (“apron”), German Schürze (“apron”), Danish skjorte (“shirt”), Norwegian skjorte (“shirt”), Swedish skjorta (“shirt”), Faroese skjúrta (“shirt”), Icelandic skyrta (“shirt”). Doublet of skirt via Old Norse; further related to short.

Example Sentences

• "He went to the mall to buy shirts his size."
• "It can take a while to learn how to iron a shirt properly."
• "She had her shertes & gyrdyls of heere."