前掛け

Etymology
Compound of. Attested from at least the 17th century.

Noun

 * 1) apron an article of clothing worn over the front of the torso and/or legs, often for protection from spills
 * 2) bib clothing tied around a baby's neck to protect their clothes from getting dirty when eating
 * 3)  long strips of fabric attached to the front of a mo, a type of skirt formerly worn by women or girls
 * 1) bib clothing tied around a baby's neck to protect their clothes from getting dirty when eating
 * 2)  long strips of fabric attached to the front of a mo, a type of skirt formerly worn by women or girls
 * 1)  long strips of fabric attached to the front of a mo, a type of skirt formerly worn by women or girls
 * 1)  long strips of fabric attached to the front of a mo, a type of skirt formerly worn by women or girls

Usage notes
The word 前掛け may be used broadly for an apron or smock. Some synonyms may have more specific reference, depending on region. A covering for both front and back of the upper body is often called a. Until the middle, the word and various regional variants were commonly used in reference to various types of covering suspended from the neck. During much of the Edo period 前掛け referred to protective linen or cotton smocks worn by merchants, and later to decorative silk aprons worn by shop girls. The word, from English apron, appeared during the late 19th century.