gown

From Middle English gowne, from Anglo-Norman goune, gune (“fur-trimmed coat, pelisse”), from Old French goune, from Late Latin gunna (“leather garment, a fur”). Cognate with Manx gooyn, Irish gúna.

• enPR: goun, IPA^(key): /ɡaʊn/

• Audio (US):

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• Rhymes: -aʊn

gown (plural gowns)

1. A loose, flowing upper garment.
3. A woman's ordinary outer dress, such as a calico or silk gown.
4. The official robe of certain professionals, clerics, and scholars, such as university students and officers, barristers, judges, etc.
   • 1593, anonymous author, The Life and Death of Iacke Straw […], Act I:

     VVhat is he an honeſt man? the deuill he is, he is the Parſon of the Towne,
     You thinke ther’s no knauerie hid vnder a black gowne, […]

   1. The dress of civil officers, as opposed to military officers.
5. (by metonymy) The university community, especially as contrasted with the local populace.

   In the perennial town versus gown battles, townies win some violent battles, but the collegians are winning the war.

6. A loose wrapper worn by gentlemen within doors; a dressing gown.
7. Any sort of dress or garb.
8. The robe worn by a surgeon.

gown (third-person singular simple present gowns, present participle gowning, simple past and past participle gowned)

1. To dress in a gown, to don or garb with a gown.

• Wong, wong

gown

1. alternative form of gowne