night rail

noun

ˈnīt-ˌrāl 

archaic

: nightgown

Word History

Etymology

night entry 1 + rail "loose outer garment worn by women, scarf, shawl," going back to Middle English reyel, reil "garment," going back to Old English hrægl, hregl "cloak, garment," going back to Germanic *hregil-, *hregul- (whence also Old Frisian hreil "garment," Old High German hregil "garment, armor"), probably from an accentual variant of *hrehula- "device for holding or separating yarn" — more at reel entry 1

First Known Use

1552, in the meaning defined above