négligée
nounEtymology From French négligée f (past participle, adjective), from French négligé m (“underdressed; loose garment”, past participle, adjective, noun), past participle of négliger (“to neglect”), from Latin negligere.
1
Obsolete A woman's lightweight gown of the eighteenth century.
- [S]he had on a lilac Negligee, Gause Cuffs trimmed richly, with Flowers and spangles, spangled shoes, Bows of Gause and Flowers, and a Cap!1777, Frances Burney, Journals & Letters, Penguin, published 2001, page 78:
2
Historical A necklace of beads, pearls etc.
3
Archaic A state of careless undress or very informal attire.
- “Good! My lady will be sitting in her boudoir, very much in negligee, about now.”1913, Edgar Rice Burroughs, The Return of Tarzan, New York: Ballantine Books, published 1963, page 43:
4
A woman's loose-fitting nightgown, especially when short, lacy or revealing; a nightie.
- Enkhbayar has promised more jobs, free education and higher public service wages to the poverty-ravaged country. But who needs those when you've got dancing girls in black negligees?2000 July 3, “No: 1669 Mongolia”, in The Guardian: