camisole

straitjacket

noun kah-mee-ZOL Rare

Also means

camisole (old-fashioned garment)

Usage Note

Camisole in modern French most commonly appears in the compound camisole de force (straitjacket), the physical restraint used in psychiatric settings. Historically it was a short-sleeved undergarment or light jacket. The English loanword 'camisole' (a sleeveless top) does not map directly onto current French usage.

Examples

"Le patient portait une camisole de force."

Natural Translation

The patient was wearing a straitjacket.

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