Definition

Noun: 1. A short, sleeved blouse worn under a jumper, pinafore, or low-necked dress. 2. A piece of starched cloth or linen that covers the shoulders and chest, and sometimes the neck, worn as part of a nun's traditional habit.

Usage and Examples

• As a garment under a dress:
  • The school uniform required a white guimpe to be worn under the navy pinafore.
  • She chose a lace-trimmed guimpe to provide a modest layer beneath her sundress.
• As part of a nun's habit:
  • The nun adjusted her guimpe before entering the chapel.
  • The traditional habit included a black tunic, a veil, and a white linen guimpe.

Advanced Usage

• The term is specific to historical and certain traditional forms of dress. In modern fashion, similar garments are more commonly called "chemisettes," "dickies," or simply "under-blouses."
• In a religious context, the guimpe is a symbolic vestment representing modesty and the renunciation of vanity.

Variants and Related Words

• Chemisette (noun): A similar garment, often of lace or sheer fabric, worn to fill in the neckline of a dress.
• Dickey (noun): A false shirt front or blouse front, often detachable.
• Wimple (noun): A cloth headdress covering the head, neck, and sides of the face, worn by women in medieval Europe and still by some nuns. (Note: This is a different, though historically related, garment.)

Synonyms

• Under-blouse
• Chemisette (for fashion context)
• Fichu (a related, but often triangular, piece of cloth worn over the shoulders)

Notes on Meaning

The two primary meanings are connected by the garment's function as a covering for the upper chest and shoulders. The secular version is a functional undergarment for modesty or warmth, while the religious version is a formal, symbolic part of a uniform habit.

Noun

1. a short blouse with sleeves that is worn under a jumper or pinafore dress
2. a piece of starched cloth covering the shoulders of a nun's habit