Clothing terminology

Clothing terminology ranges from the arcane (watchet,[1] a pale blue color name from the 16th century), and changes over time in response to fashion which in turn reflects social, artistic, and political trends.

Gown (from Medieval Latin gunna) was a basic clothing term for hundreds of years, referring to a garment that hangs from the shoulders.

In Medieval and Renaissance England gown referred to a loose outer garment worn by both men and women, sometimes short, more often ankle length, with sleeves.

Shirt and skirt are originally the same word, the former being the southern and the latter the northern pronunciation in early Middle English.

Modern terms such as Bermuda shorts, Hawaiian shirts, and Fair Isle sweaters are the latest in a long line that stretches back to holland (linen), damask ("from Damascus"), polonaise ("in the fashion of Polish women"), basque, jersey (originally Jersey frock), Balaclava, Capri pants, mantua, and denim ("serge de Nîmes" after the city).