smock

UK: /ˈsmɒk/ US: /smɑk/ ,(smok)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

smock /smɑk/   n. [countable]

1. Clothing a loose, lightweight piece of clothing worn over the outer clothes to protect them while working.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

smock  (smok), n. 

1. Clothing a loose, lightweight overgarment worn to protect the clothing while working.

v.t. 

2. Clothing to clothe in a smock.
3. Clothing to draw (a fabric) by needlework into a honeycomb pattern with diamond-shaped recesses.

• bef. 1000; Middle English (noun, nominal), Old English smocc; origin, originally name for a garment with a hole for the head; compare Old Norse smjūga to put on (a garment) over the head

smock′like′, adj. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

smock / smɒk/ noun

1. any loose protective garment, worn by artists, laboratory technicians, etc
2. a woman's loose blouse-like garment, reaching to below the waist, worn over slacks, etc
3. Also called: smock frock a loose protective overgarment decorated with smocking, worn formerly esp by farm workers
4. a woman's loose undergarment, worn from the 16th to the 18th centuries

verb

1. to ornament (a garment) with smocking

Etymology: Old English smocc; related to Old High German smocco, Old Norse smokkr blouse, Middle High German gesmuc decoration

ˈsmockˌlike adjective