■ noun
1》 Brit. an undergarment worn on the upper part of the body, typically sleeveless.
2》 a sleeveless garment worn on the upper part of the body for a particular purpose: a bulletproof ~.
3》 N. Amer. & Austral. a waistcoat or sleeveless jacket.
■ verb
1》 ( ~ something in ) confer or bestow power, property, etc. on: executive power is ~ed in the President.
↘(usu. be ~ed with ) give (someone) the legal right to power, property, etc.
2》 put on ~ments.
↘ literary dress (someone).
Phrases
play (or keep ) one's cards close to one's ~ see chest .
Origin
ME: the verb from OFr. ~u 'clothed', past participle of ~ir , from L. ~ire ; the noun from Fr. ~e , via Ital. from L. ~is 'garment'.