TextileGlossary.com

What is "Shirt" - Definition & Explanation

A shirt is a sort of top, i.e. a piece of clothing for the trunk of the body.
In the UK, it refers almost exclusively to what Americans call a dress shirt, i.e. a garment with a collar and a full vertical opening with buttons. In the US is tends to have a vaguer meaning, being applied to many types of (mainly men's) tops, leaving the word "top" generally for ladieswear.

Some common types or synonyms of shirts and tops:
T-shirt
polo shirt — a shirt with collar but only a partial vertical opening with buttons
shirt or dress shirt — a shirt with collar and full vertical opening with buttons
tank top — a sleeveless T-shirt
wife beater — a tank top worn as an outer layer
blouse — ladies shirt — the term is also used for some men's military uniform shirts.
nightshirt — for sleeping
sweater, sweatshirt — with or without hood
rugby shirt — typically a rugged long-sleeved polo shirt
Hawaiian shirt — a colourful short-sleeve dress shirt
guayabera — an embroidered dress shirt with four pockets
golf shirt — a polo shirt
baseball shirt — usually distinguished by a three quarters sleeve
first shirt — the "shirt" is a nick-name for a First Sergeant

The shirt was worn as a man's undergarment, covering the body from neck to knee. Most were made of white linen which could be very fine or very coarse. A gentleman's best shirt may have ruffles (ruffs) at the wrist and/or breast. A laborer's shirt was sometimes made of unbleached linen or small patterned checks and stripes. A plain shirt might serve as a nightshirt.

Some other terms

Some more terms:

Whipcord
Cotton, rayon, worsted or woolen twill that is similar to gabardine, but the yarn is bulkier and much more pronounced. It is very durable, rugged and stands hard usage and wear. In time, it shines a...
Dry Spun
a) Descriptive of worsted yarns produced from dry-combed top. b) Descriptive of coarse linen yarn spun from air-dry roving (q.v.) c) Descriptive of man-made filaments the coagulation of which is...
Venice Lace
This lace often has a high profile, and is made using a needlepoint technique rather than embroidery. A heavier weight lace, the patterns vary from geometric to floral. Each pattern is attached to...
Dye bath reuse
Dye bath reuse is the practice of recycling the water used in dye baths for subsequent baths. The water conserved through the bath's reuse is substantial, as anywhere from 10 -50% of dye from one...
Ink-jet printing
Ink-jet printing is a method of applying pigment and dyes to cloth using an ink-jet printer. It is considered the most eco-friendly and efficient method of printing due to its lower water usage,...

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