Henley

noun

Hen·​ley ˈhen-lē 

variants or Henley shirt or less commonly henley or henley shirt

: a lightweight pullover shirt with a ribbed collar and a vertical opening at the neck fastened by a line of buttons

The black Henley shirt was strategically unbuttoned to reveal a chest full of bad-boy tattoos and a sizable gold medallion.

—Liana Satenstein

He's perched on a stool in a coffee shop in Hollywood wearing a Henley, a mildly whimsical hat, and a pervasively radiant sense of health.

—Zach Baron

But henleys also boast a feminine side. The women's shirts are often trimmed with lace, decorative buttons or ribbon.

—Marilyn Johnson

Word History

Etymology

from Henley on Thames, England, site of the Henley Regatta, a rowing event (the shirt resembles shirts traditionally worn by rowers)

First Known Use

1889, in the meaning defined above

Geographical Definition

Henley

geographical name

Hen·​ley ˈhen-lē 

variants or Henley on Thames

town in Oxfordshire, southeast central England, west of London population 31,744

Biographical Definition

Henley

biographical name

Hen·​ley ˈhen-lē 

William Ernest 1849–1903 English editor and author