Shift  
An undergarment, similar to a long shirt or nightgown, that was first layer of clothing worn by 17th/18th-century English women, girls, and very young boys. Shifts were below-knee length, usually made of white linen and gathered with a drawstring at the neck and sleeves. For day wear, shifts were covered by petticoats and gowns; at night, they functioned as nightgowns.

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