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smock

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The definition of a smock is a loose dress or blouse that you wear over your clothing to protect the clothing.

(noun)

A loose cotton shirt that you put on that covers the front and back of your clothes is an example of a smock.

Smock is to decorate clothing or other items by gathering fabric to one-third of its width and then sewing over the gathers so that the fabric can stretch.

(verb)

An example of smock is to gather pleats of fabric around the neck and sleeves of a garment in the Middle Ages.

See smock in Webster's New World College Dictionary

noun

a loose, shirtlike outer garment worn to protect the clothes
Archaic a chemise, or sliplike undergarment
a loose-fitting woman's or girl's dress or top that is gathered into a yoke or by means of smocking at the bust

Origin: ME smoc < OE or ON smokkr < IE *(s)meugh < base *meug-, slippery, to slip, slip on > smuggle, meek, L mucus

transitive verb