n. One whose professional habit is a gown, such as a divine, a lawyer, or a member of certain English universities.
n. A civilian, in distinction from a soldier.
the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English
n. One whose professional habit is a gown, as a divine or lawyer, and particularly a member of an English university; hence, a civilian, in distinction from a soldier.
The Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia
n. One whose professional habit is a gown, as a lawyer, or a professor or student of a university, especially the last.
n. One devoted to the arts of peace, in distinction from a soldier; a citizen.
Word Usage
"The gownsman and financier would find himself better off in France than elsewhere."