† ˈcamis, camus Obs.
[Spenser's word was prob. meant to represent Sp. and Pr. camisa, = Pg. camiza, It. camicia, camiscia ‘shirt, smock, priest's surplice’, F. chemise (ONF. kemise):—late L. camisia, camisa linen tunic, alb, shirt (see chemise); or else the cognate It. cámice surplice. It is hardly likely that he knew the Oriental qamī{cced} or camise (see below).]
A light loose dress of silk or linen; a chemise, shirt, tunic.
| 1596 Spenser F.Q. ii. iii. 26 And [she] was yclad, for heat of scorching aire, All in a silken Camus lilly whight. Ibid. v. v. 2 [The Amazon] All in a Camis light of purple silke Woven uppon with silver, subtly wrought. |
¶ Various foreign forms of the word camisia: camesa, camisa, camiscia, occur casually.
| 1690 B. E. Dict. Cant. Crew, Camesa, a Shirt or Shift. 1796 Stedman Surinam II. xx. 89 The rest of his [a rebel negro's] dress is a camisa, tied around his loins like a handkerchief. 1825 Scott Talism. xv, His..person was wrapped in the folds of his camiscia, or ample gown of linen. |