From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
Gown \Gown\ (goun), n. [OE. goune, prob. from W. gwn gown, loose
robe, akin to Ir. gunn, Gael. g[`u]n; cf. OF. gone, prob. of
the same origin.]
1. A loose, flowing upper garment; especially:
(a) The ordinary outer dress of a woman, especially one
that is full-length/ex>.
(b) The official robe of certain professional men and
scholars, as university students and officers,
barristers, judges, etc.; hence, the dress of peace;
the dress of civil officers, in distinction from
military.
[1913 Webster]
He Mars deposed, and arms to gowns made yield.
--Dryden.
(c) A loose wrapper worn by gentlemen within doors; a
dressing gown.
[1913 Webster]
2. Any sort of dress or garb.
[1913 Webster]
He comes . . . in the gown of humility. --Shak.
[1913 Webster]
3. An {evening gown}.
[PJC]
4. The students and faculty of a college and university, as
opposed to the local inhabitants not connected to the
university; -- used often in the phrase "town and gown",
referring to interactions between the university and the
local townspeople; as, a town and gown dispute.
[PJC]
From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]:
gown
n 1: a woman's dress, usually with a close-fitting bodice and a
long flared skirt, often worn on formal occasions
2: the members of a university as distinguished from the other
residents of the town in which the university is located;
"the relations between town and gown are always sensitive"
3: lingerie consisting of a loose dress designed to be worn in
bed by women [syn: {nightgown}, {gown}, {nightie}, {night-
robe}, {nightdress}]
4: protective garment worn by surgeons during operations [syn:
{gown}, {surgical gown}, {scrubs}]
5: outerwear consisting of a long flowing garment used for
official or ceremonial occasions [syn: {gown}, {robe}]
v 1: dress in a gown
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