I. ˈvest verb
Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French vestir to clothe, invest, vest, from Latin vestire to clothe, from vestis clothing, garment — more at wear
Date: 15th century
transitive verb
1.
a. : to place or give into the possession or discretion of some person or authority ; especially : to give to a person a legally fixed immediate right of present or future enjoyment of (as an estate)
b. : to grant or endow with a particular authority, right, or property
the plan vest s workers with pension benefits after 10 years of service
2. : to clothe with or as if with a garment ; especially : to robe in ecclesiastical vestments
intransitive verb
1. : to become legally vested
2. : to put on garments ; especially : to put on ecclesiastical vestments
II. noun
Etymology: French veste, from Italian, from Latin vestis garment
Date: 1613
1. archaic
a. : a loose outer garment : robe
b. : clothing , garb
2.
a. : a sleeveless garment for the upper body usually worn over a shirt
b. : a protective usually sleeveless garment (as a life preserver) that extends to the waist
c. : an insulated sleeveless waist-length garment often worn under or in place of a coat
3.
a. chiefly British : a man's sleeveless undershirt
b. : a knitted undershirt for women
4. : a plain or decorative piece used to fill in the front neckline of a woman's outer garment (as a blouse or dress)
• vest·like -ˌlīk adjective