Tunic
/ˈtjuː.nɪk/noun
A short, close-fitting garment worn on the upper body or as a loose outer garment.
Did you know?English tunic comes through Old French from Latin tunica, the standard Roman garment, and its deeper origin may be related to an ancient word for a cover or sheath—clothing as concealment, not just style.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*ten-
“to stretch, extend”
Latin
Latin
tunica
“a tunic, a short-sleeved garment”
Late Latin
Latin
tunica
“a shirt, undergarment, or outer garment”
Old French
OF
tunique
“a tunic or robe”
Middle English
English
tunic
“a tunic, robe, or coat”
Modern English
English
tunic
“a short, close-fitting or loose outer garment”