Liveries

1 definition found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Livery \Liv"er*y\, n.; pl. {Liveries}. [OE. livere, F.
     livr['e]e, formerly, a gift of clothes made by the master to
     his servants, prop., a thing delivered, fr. livrer to
     deliver, L. liberare to set free, in LL., to deliver up. See
     {Liberate}.]
     1. (Eng. Law)


        (a) The act of delivering possession of lands or
            tenements.
        (b) The writ by which possession is obtained.
            [1913 Webster]
  
     Note: It is usual to say, {livery of seizin}, which is a
           feudal investiture, made by the delivery of a turf, of
           a rod, a twig, or a key from the feoffor to the feoffee
           as a symbol of delivery of the whole property. There
           was a distinction of {livery in deed} when this
           ceremony was performed on the property being
           transferred, and {livery in law} when performed in
           sight of the property, but not on it. In the United
           States, and now in Great Britain, no such ceremony is
           necessary, the delivery of a deed being sufficient as a
           livery of seizin, regardless of where performed.
           --Black's 4th Ed.
           [1913 Webster +PJC]
  
     2. Release from wardship; deliverance.
        [1913 Webster]
  
              It concerned them first to sue out their livery from
              the unjust wardship of his encroaching prerogative.
                                                    --Milton.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     3. That which is delivered out statedly or formally, as
        clothing, food, etc.; especially:
        (a) The uniform clothing issued by feudal superiors to
            their retainers and serving as a badge when in
            military service.
        (b) The peculiar dress by which the servants of a nobleman
            or gentleman are distinguished; as, a claret-colored
            livery.
        (c) Hence, also, the peculiar dress or garb appropriated
            by any association or body of persons to their own
            use; as, the livery of the London tradesmen, of a
            priest, of a charity school, etc.; also, the whole
            body or company of persons wearing such a garb, and
            entitled to the privileges of the association; as, the
            whole livery of London.
            [1913 Webster]
  
                  A Haberdasher and a Carpenter,
                  A Webbe, a Dyer, and a Tapicer,
                  And they were clothed all in one livery
                  Of a solempne and a gret fraternite. --Chaucer.
            [1913 Webster]
  
                  From the periodical deliveries of these
                  characteristic articles of servile costume (blue
                  coats) came our word livery.      --De Quincey.
        (d) Hence, any characteristic dress or outward appearance.
            " April's livery." --Sir P. Sidney.
            [1913 Webster]
  
                  Now came still evening on, and twilight gray
                  Had in her sober livery all things clad.
                                                    --Milton.
        (e) An allowance of food statedly given out; a ration, as
            to a family, to servants, to horses, etc.
            [1913 Webster]
  
                  The emperor's officers every night went through
                  the town from house to house whereat any English
                  gentleman did repast or lodge, and served their
                  liveries for all night: first, the officers
                  brought into the house a cast of fine manchet
                  [white bread], and of silver two great pots, and
                  white wine, and sugar.            --Cavendish.
        (f) The feeding, stabling, and care of horses for
            compensation; boarding; as, to keep one's horses at
            livery.
            [1913 Webster]
  
                  What livery is, we by common use in England know
                  well enough, namely, that is, allowance of horse
                  meat, as to keep horses at livery, the which
                  word, I guess, is derived of livering or
                  delivering forth their nightly food. --Spenser.
            [1913 Webster]
  
                  It need hardly be observed that the explanation
                  of livery which Spenser offers is perfectly
                  correct, but . . . it is no longer applied to
                  the ration or stated portion of food delivered
                  at stated periods.                --Trench.
        (g) The keeping of horses in readiness to be hired
            temporarily for riding or driving; the state of being
            so kept; also, the place where horses are so kept,
            also called a {livery stable}.
            [1913 Webster]
  
                  Pegasus does not stand at livery even at the
                  largest establishment in Moorfields. --Lowell.
            [1913 Webster]
  
     4. A low grade of wool.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     {Livery gown}, the gown worn by a liveryman in London.
        [1913 Webster]