nightie

English

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /ˈnaɪti/
Audio (US): (file)
Rhymes: -aɪti

Etymology 1

Etymology tree

Proto-Indo-European *nókʷts

Proto-Germanic *nahts

Proto-West Germanic *naht

Proto-West Germanic *nahti

Old English niht

Middle English nyght

English night

Proto-Germanic *-j-, *-ij-

Proto-West Germanic *-i, *-ī

Old English -iġ

Middle English -y

English -y

English -ie

English nightie

From night + -ie (diminutive suffix).

Alternative forms

nighty

Noun

nightie (plural nighties)

(informal) A woman's nightgown or nightdress for wearing to bed.
I was too embarrassed to answer the door in my nightie.
- 2023 March 28, Philip Oltermann, “Michel Houellebecq sex film to be released despite attempt to stop it”, in The Guardian‎^[1], →ISSN:
  The clip shows the 67-year-old enfant terrible of French letters in pyjamas lying on a bed next to a woman in a nightie, smoking and laughing.

Derived terms

off like a bride's nightie

Translations

sleeping garment worn by women — see nightgown

Etymology 2