n. [ OE. schirte, sherte, schurte; akin to Icel. skyrta, Dan. skiorte, Sw. skjorta, Dan. skiört a petticoat, D. schort a petticoat, an argon, G. schurz, schürze, an argon; all probably from the root of E. short, as being originally a short garment. See Short, and cf. Skirt. ] A loose under-garment for the upper part of the body, made of cotton, linen, or other material; -- formerly used of the under-garment of either sex, now commonly restricted to that worn by men and boys. [ 1913 Webster ]

Several persons in December had nothing over their shoulders but their shirts. Addison. [ 1913 Webster ]

She had her shirts and girdles of hair. Bp. Fisher. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. & i. [ imp. & p. p. Shirted; p. pr. & vb. n. Shirting. ] To cover or clothe with a shirt, or as with a shirt. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Cloth, specifically cotton cloth, suitable for making shirts. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Not having or wearing a shirt. Pope. [ 1913 Webster ]

-- Shirt"less*ness, n. [1913 Webster]

. [ shirt + waist; see waist{ 3 }, n. ] 1. A woman's blouse resembling a men's shirt in cut and style; -- in England called a blouse. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. +PJC ]

2. a type of woman's dress with a bodice tailored like a shirt; -- also called shirt dress, shirtwaist dress, and shirtwaister. [ RHUD ] [ PJC ]

. A costume consisting of a plain belted blouse and skirt of the same material. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]