Emily Dickinson Lexicon

VEST, n. [Fr. wee; It. vests; L. vest is, a coat or garment; vestio, to cover or clothe, Goth. vestyan; W. gwisg.]

1. An outer garment. Over his lucid arms A military rest of purple flow'd. Milton.
2. In common speech, a man's under garment; a short garment covering the body, but without sleeves, worn untier the coat; called also waistcoat.