Blouse or Blowse, n.
(blowz), n. [Fr. blouse, bliaude, O. Fr. bliant, blius, Pr. bliaut, bliauzat, upper clothing, L. Lat. bliandus, bliadius, blialus, bliauus, a kind of dress; — of Oriental origin: Pers. baljād, a garment, or simple cloth.] A light, loose overgarment, worn especially by workingmen in France; hence, in the pl., the workingmen in France as a class.
