GOWN  , properly the

term for a loose outer garment formerly worn by either sex but now generally for that worn by women . While " dress " is the usual English word, except in such combinations as " tea-gown," " dressing-gown " and the like, where the original loose flowing nature of the " gown " is referred to, " gown " is the common American word . " Gown " comes from the O . Fr. goune or Bonne . The word appears in various Romanic languages, cf . Ital. gonna . The medieval Lat. gunna is used of a garment of skin or fur . A Celtic origin has been usually adopted, but the Irish, Gaelic and Manx words are taken from the English . Outside the ordinary use of the word, " gown " is the name for the distinctive robes worn by holders of particular offices or by members of particular professions or of universities, &c . (see RoBEs) .