"What Meanest Thou?" // #2

It's time for our second What Meanest Thou post! And (per popular request), it's a further study in period (mostly medieval) dress with lots of pictures this time around. So here ye go...

#1: Kirtle

A woman's gown or outer petticoat (i.e. what would generally be referenced as her 'dress' in modern terms). Often worn over a shift (see point #4 below).

#2: Surcoat

An outer coat of rich material. A man's loose robe worn over armor; a sleeveless garment worn as part of the insignia of an order of knighthood. Can also reference a woman's sleeveless overdress (see pictures 4 and 5 below in this category).

#3: Smock

A loose dress or blouse with the upper part closely gathered, it was/is an outer garment worn by men, women and children. Similar to the tunic in that it spans many historical periods.

Elizabethan smock

Elizabeth shirt and Jacobean smock

#4: Shift

A woman's long, straight, unwaisted, loose-fitting undergarment. Often worn as a nightdress as well. (Spans many historical periods.)

Early 19th century

So there you have it! :) What are your thoughts? Have you ever confused any of these terms?

Heidi Peterson is a lover of wide-spreading land, summer dust, white pounding waterfalls, and mountain tops; also of good dark coffee and rich stories. Most of all she's a lover of the One who is the Word, the Word made flesh. You can visit her additional blog (where she shares more about books, movies, and further marvels of life) at: Along the Brandywine.

Visit and contact at: Sharing the Journey // Along the Brandywine // ladyofanorien(at)gmail(dot)com

"What Meanest Thou?" // #1

I'm on the road this week, but wanted to give a quick posting update here and also launch a new blog series!

In short, I'm moving our author interviews to a bimonthly schedule this year and on the off months I'll either be sharing writing updates, book reviews, historical research, or studies of commonly confused words/historical terms. Sound interesting? :)

So here's for our first "What Meanest Thou?"

In December (while proofreading A Flame Shall Spring) I delved into a quick fact check/refresher course on the nature of doublets, tunics, and jerkins. Sometimes it's easy to forget specific terms in the heat of composition (either that or my brain just blanks ;)) and regardless, it can always be helpful to have everything pulled together in one place!

#1: Doublet

A man's short close-fitting padded jacket, commonly worn from the 14th to the 17th century.

#2: Jerkin

A man's close-fitting jacket, typically made of leather. (Can also be sleeveless.)

#3: Tunic

(This term particularly morphed over time, but through the ancient and medieval periods it remained relatively the same.)

A gown-like outer garment, with or without sleeves and sometimes belted.

So! Did you find that short little summary helpful? Intriguing? Old news? Let me know in the comments! :)

Heidi Peterson is a lover of wide-spreading land, summer dust, white pounding waterfalls, and mountain tops; also of good dark coffee and rich stories. Most of all she's a lover of the One who is the Word, the Word made flesh. You can visit her additional blog (where she shares more about books, movies, and further marvels of life) at: Along the Brandywine.

Visit and contact at: Sharing the Journey // Along the Brandywine // ladyofanorien(at)gmail(dot)com