gyre

Pronounced: jire (alt: jigh-uhr), noun

Notes: I’ve come across this word (but it is a little specialized)

---

Yesterday’s word

The word shirtsleeve means

• relating to pleasant warm weather
• informal; direct
• hardworking; having a can-do attitude

First usage

Our word came into English in the mid-1500s

Background / Comments

All of our definitions derive from the sleeves of one’s shirt. In warmer weather, shirtsleeves are often rolled up. Also, shedding a coat and being in shirtsleeves is considered an informal way of dressing (in older times). Finally, we have the idea of rolling up one shirtsleeves to get working on something. Our word came from sleeve plus shirt, which came from the Old English word scyrte, which came from the Old English word sliefe.