an undergarment of linen, silk, cotton and flannel for the upper part of the body, usually only applied to such a garment when worn by men, though the term is becoming common as used of a plain form of blouse worn by women, the American "shirt-waist." The word is apparently Scandinavian in origin and is an adaptation of the Icel. skyrte, Dan. skiorte, properly a short garment, and is derived from the root skar - to cut off; it is cognate with Ger. Schurz, apron, and the same root is seen in "short," "shear" and "skirt"; the last word is now used of that part of a woman's garment which reaches from the waist to the feet, but properly means the lower part of the shirt, hence, edge, border of anything.