also: なおし · ちょくい
noun
nōshi (everyday court robe)
A type of informal court robe worn by male imperial family members and high-ranking nobles from the Heian period onward. It is a historical garment, primarily encountered in contexts of Japanese court culture, literature, or historical reenactment.
平安時代の貴族は、普段着として直衣を着用していた。
Heian-period nobles wore nōshi as everyday attire.
この絵巻には、直衣姿の公卿が描かれている。
In this picture scroll, a court noble in nōshi robes is depicted.
Rare alternate reading; のうし is preferred.
The term 直衣 literally means 'straight robe' or 'direct clothing', referring to its simple, unlined style compared to more formal court garments. The reading のうし is a sound shift from the older reading なおし, which itself derives from the adjective 直し (naoshi, 'straight' or 'ordinary'). The reading ちょくい is a Sino-Japanese reading of the characters.