Nazir

What interpretation does the first Tanna  put on [the verse] 'neither shall a man put on a woman's garment'? — He requires it for the following that has been taught: Why does Scripture say, A woman shall not wear that which pertaineth unto a man [etc.]?  If merely [to teach] that a man should not put on a woman's garment, nor a woman a man s garment, behold it says [of this action] this is an abomination  and there is no abomination here!  It must therefore mean that a man should not put on a woman's garment and mix with women, nor a woman a man's garment and mix with men. R. Eliezer b. Jacob says: How do we know that a woman should not go to war bearing arms? Scripture says, 'A woman shall not wear that which pertaineth unto a man.' [The words] 'Neither shall a man put on a woman's garment,' [signify] that a man is not to use cosmetics as women do. R. Nahman said that a nazirite is permitted [to remove the hair of his armpits],  but this is not the accepted ruling. The Rabbis said to R. Simeon b. Abba: We have seen that R. Johanan has no [hair in his armpits].  [R. Simeon] said to them: It has fallen out because of his old age. A certain man was sentenced to scourging before R. Ammi, and when his armpits became bared,  he noticed that they were not shaven. R. Ammi said to them: Let him go free. This man must be a member of the [learned] fraternity. Rab asked R. Hiyya whether [it was permitted] to shave  [the armpits]. He replied: It is forbidden. [Rab] then asked: But it grows?  He replied: Son of great ancestors,  there is a limit. If it continues to grow [beyond this] it falls out. Rab asked R. Hiyya whether [it was permitted] to scratch [the armpits to remove the hair]. He replied: It is forbidden. [To the further question] whether he might [scratch] through his garment,  he replied that it was permitted. Some say that he asked him whether he might [scratch] through his garment during prayers  and he replied that it was forbidden; but this is not the accepted ruling.