CAMIS´IA
CAMIS´IA whence French
chemise, a linen shirt worn next to the skin, is first mentioned in
the fourth century by St. Jerome (
Ep. 64, n. 11), from whom
we learn that the word was used in the popular language, and that in his
time the camisia was worn by soldiers ( “solent militantes habere
lineas, quas camisias vocant” ). It is also mentioned by Isidorus
(
Orig. 19.22), and by Paulus (Fest. s. v.
supparus, p. 311, M.), who gives it as the
equivalent of the older word
subucula.
[
W.S]