Vest | Webster's Dictionary (1865)

Vēst, n.

noun

n. [Fr., Sp., & Pg. veste, It. veste, vesta, from Lat. vestis, a garment, vest, allied to Gr. ἐσθής, ἔσθος, dress, clothes, Goth. vasti, garment, Skr. vāsaś, id., Goth. vasjan, to clothe, Skr. vas, to be clothed.]

Sense 1. An article of clothing covering the person; an outer garment; a vestment; a dress; a vesture; a robe.

Addressed her early steps to Cynthia's fane, In state attended by her maiden train, Who bore the vests that holy rites require. Dryden.

Sense 2. Hence, any outer covering.

Not seldom clothed in radiant vest Deceitfully goes forth the morn. Wordsworth.

Sense 3. Specifically, a waistcoat or body garment for men, without sleeves, and worn under the coat.

Synonyms—Garment; vesture; dress; robe; vestment; waistcoat.—VEST. WAISTCOAT. In England, the original word waistcoat is always used for the garment worn immediately under a coat. In the United States, vest has been universally substituted, while waistcoat is more generally used for an under garment; as, a flannel waistcoat.

Over his lucid arms A military vest of purple flowed Livelier than Melibœan. Milton.

'Twas a sad sight, before they marched from home, To see our warriors in red waistcoats come, With hair tucked up, into our tiring-room. Marriage à la Mode.

Vēst, v. t.

verbtransitive

v. t. [imp. & p. p. VESTED; p. pr. & vb. n. VESTING.] [Lat. & It. vestire, Sp., Pg., Pr., & O. Fr. vestir, N. Fr. vêtir. See supra.]

To clothe with a garment, or as if with a garment; to dress; to robe; to cover, surround, or encompass closely. “With ether vested, and a purple sky.” Dryden. “Came, vested all in white, pure as her mind.” Milton.
Hence, to put in possession; to furnish; to endow;—followed by with; as, to vest a man with authority; to vest a court with power to try cases of life and death; to vest one with the right of seizing slave ships.

“Had I been vested with the monarch’s power.” Prior.

(Law.) To clothe with possession; to give an immediate fixed right of present or future enjoyment of; as, an estate is vested in possession. Bouvier.
To invest; to put; as, to vest money in goods; to vest money in land or houses; to vest money in bank stock; to vest all one’s property in the public funds. [Rare.]

Vēst, v. i.

verbintransitive

v. i. To come or descend; to be fixed; to take effect, as a title or right; as, upon the death of the ancestor, the estate, or the right to the estate, vests in the heir at law.