Meanings
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1
noun
a loose garment worn over other clothes to protect them, traditionally by artists, workers, or farm laborers
The potter wore a canvas smock to protect her clothes from clay.
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2
noun
historical: a woman's loose undergarment or shift
The costume included a linen smock beneath the outer dress.
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3
verb
to decorate or shape fabric by gathering it into small folds held with embroidery
She learned to smock the bodice with rows of elastic stitches.
Thesaurus
Etymology
From Middle English smok and Old English smoc, a garment put on by slipping the head through an opening. It is related to Germanic verbs meaning 'creep' or 'slip into.' The embroidery sense developed from the gathered stitching used on traditional smocks.