gown

Outer garment, often an elegant or formal dress for women. Introduced in the late 14th century, it fitted the upper part of the body but fell loosely from the waist, and had a high upright collar. In England, during the reign of Henry VIII the gown was adapted to feature a low-cut neck and bell-shaped sleeves. Today the term is often used to refer to a formal evening dress.

In other contexts, a gown can also be the protective outer clothing worn by surgeons and support staff during operations or the formal outer garment worn by academics, judges, or peers, also known as a robe.