Also 6–9 cornette, 6–7 erron. coronet(t. [a. F. cornette, dim. of corne:—Rom. corna f. sing., horn:—L. cornua n. pl., horns.]
1. A kind of head-dress formerly worn by ladies. † b. A part of a head-dress consisting of lappets of lace or the like hanging down the sides of the cheeks. c. The great white head-dress of Sisters of Charity.
‘A fashion of Shadow or Boonegrace vsed in old time, and at this day by some old women’ (Cotgrave); ‘the upper pinner dangling about the cheeks like a hound’s ears’ (Evelyn, Mundus Muliebris, 1690).
a. 1547. Surrey, in Tottel’s Misc. (Arb.), 12. I neuer saw my Ladye laye apart Her cornet blacke, in colde nor yet in heate.
1548. Hall, Chron. (1809), 837. But on her head she had a cap … with a Cornet of laune.
1578. Inv. R. Wardrobe (1815), 232 (Jam.). Ane quaiff of camorage with tua cornettis.
1682. Lond. Gaz., No. 1769/4. Lost … a Point Cornet for the Head.
1697. C’tess. D’Aunoy’s Trav. (1706), 256. I immediately threw off my Bonnets and my Cornets.
1816. J. Scott, Vis. Paris, 107. They sat up all night, that their women might lower their cornettes.
1874. B’ness Bunsen, in Hare, Life, I. ii. 39. She had visited this lady, finding her in the whitest cornette tied under the chin.
1891. Tablet, 28 Feb., 357. The white cornette and gray robe of the Sisters of St. Vincent de Paul.
2. ‘A scarf anciently worn by doctors’ (J.), as part of their academical costume.
1658. Phillips, Cornet, (French) a kinde of black Taffata, which Doctors of Physick, or Law used to wear on the collar of their robes as an Ensign, or badge of their degree.
† 3. The standard of a troop of cavalry.
Originally a long pennon narrowing gradually to a point; cf. CORNUTE B. 2.
1579. Digges, Stratiot., 127. Neither may they … departe from their Cornets or Ensignes.
1592. Unton, Corr. (Roxb.), 426. The Englishe encountered them with so great resolution and corage, as they did take two or thre cornets.
1622. F. Markham, Bk. War, III. i. § 9. 84. This Gentleman which carrieth this Cornet hath all the Priuiledges which an Ensigne of foot hath.
1752. Carte, Hist. Eng., III. 10. Nine Cornettes and six standards were taken in the pursuit.
1838. Hist. Rec. 3d Regim. Foot, 51. Three Cornets (or Standards) were taken.
Comb. 1583. Stocker, Civ. Warres Lowe C., I. 86 b. The Princes Cornet bearer.
1817. G. Chalmers, Pref. Churchyard’s Chippes, 21. Churchyard served under count de la March, as cornet-bearer to 250 light horsemen.
b. A pennon or flag used in signalling.
1875. Bedford, Sailor’s Pocket Bk., vii. (ed. 2), 267. With a Cornet Under.
† 4. A company of cavalry, so called from the standard carried at its head. (No longer in use.)
1583. Stocker, Civ. Warres Lowe C., II. 56 b. There came out of the Wood twoo Cornettes of horsemen.
1594. Peele, Batt. Alcazar, Wks. 1829, II. 95. Take a cornet of our horse, As many argolets and armed pikes.
1606. Holland, Sueton., 100. A certaine Captaine over a cornet of horse-men.
1688. J. S., Art of War, 54. The Cavalry march, in little Squadrons each consisting of two Cornets.
1838. Hist. Rec. 3d Regim. Foot, 7 Companies of foot were at this period [1572], styled Ensigns, and troops of Horse were called Cornets.
¶ erron. coronet:— 1598. Grenewey, Tacitus’ Ann., XIII. ii. (1622), 180. With other Cohorts and Coronets of horse-men.
1611. Speed, Hist. Gt. Brit., VI. xlvi. 160. Seuen Companies of footmen, and nine Coronets or troopes of horse.
5. The fifth commissioned officer in a troop of cavalry, who carried the colors; corresponding to the ensign in infantry. (No longer in use.)
1579. Digges, Stratiot., 132. The chiefe of everye Troupe or at the least their Lieutenants or Cornets.
1589. Pasquil’s Ret., C iij. For the grace … and order of euerie Cornette and Ensigne in the same.
1625. Markham, Souldiers Accid., 44. The Cornet shall be armed and horst in all points … like the Lieutenant … he shall carry charged on his right thigh, his Captaines Cornet.
a. 1671. Ld. Fairfax, Mem. (1699), 112. I had notice that Cornet Joyce … had seized on the King’s person.
1707. Freind, Peterborow’s Cond. Sp., 242. There were three good Horses for each Captain, two for each Lieutenant, and one for the Cornet.
1880. Mrs. Forrester, Roy & V., I. 91. One of Sir Brandon’s great nephews was a Cornet in my regiment.
¶ erron. coronet: 1643. Cromwell, Lett., 28 Sept. The horses that his Coronett Boulry took.
1679. Claverhouse, in Lauderdale Papers (1885), III. xcv. 165. The first [shock] they gave us broght doun the Coronet, Mr. Crafford.
b. The mounted bearer of a standard or color.
In the Burgh of Hawick, at the Common-riding, an ancient flag or colour is borne round the marches of the burgh lands by a mounted rider called the Cornet, followed by a large cavalcade. The gallop out of the town is the Corner’s Chase.
1706. in Annals of Hawick (1850), The person elected cornet, having declined to carry the pennil or colour, caused ane great disturbance.
