Forms: α. 3 liverei, 4 liveri, 4–5 levere, livere(e, Sc. lufre, 4–6 lyvere, -er(e)y, li-, lyveray, 4–7 livre, levery, li-, lyverie, -ye, (5 levore, Sc. liffray, luveray, lyvera, lewray), 5–6 leveray, liverey, -erie, (6 li-, lyveraie, -aye, livorie, Sc. leifray, lufray(e, 7 livrie, livory, Sc. lewerie), 5– livery. β. (?) 6 lyver, 7 liver. [a. AF. liveré (1292 in Britton), F. livrée (1351 in Du Cange s.v. Liberare), fem. pa. pple. of livrer LIVER v.: see -Y. Cf. It. livrea, Sp. librea (both from Fr.); med.L. had liberata.]
1. a. The dispensing of food, provisions or clothing (cf. 2) to retainers or servants; hence gen., provision, allowance. b. The food or provisions so dispensed; an allowance or ration of food served out. Now Hist.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 2122. Þe thrid part … al on þis side þe greckes see, was Iaphet giuen til his liuere. Ibid., 19220. Wit þam i mai ha mete and drinc, Mi liuere haf wit-vten suinc.
c. 1330. R. Brunne, Chron. (1810), 146. To London forto com, whan parlement suld be,… and tak þer his liuere.
13[?]. Test. Christi, 376 (MS. Harl. 2382), in Archiv Stud. neu. Spr., LXXIX. 431. A cote-armur … the which y toke of thy lyuere.
1375. Barbour, Bruce, XIV. 233. Tharfor he maid of vyne lufre [MS. E. levere, ed. 1616 lewerie] Till ilk man.
1399. Rolls of Parlt., III. 452/1. That thei … gyf no Liverees of Sygnes, no make no Retenue of men.
1399. Langl., Rich. Redeles, II. 2. Moche now me merueileth … Of ȝoure large leuerey to leodis aboute.
1422. trans. Secreta Secret., Priv. Priv., 133. Syr Stewyn Serope … Hauynge the gouernaunce of Irlande, many extorcionys did, Lyuerez takynge.
c. 1450. Bk. Curtasye, 371, in Babees Bk. Lyueray he hase of mete and drynke, And settis with hym who so hym thynke. Ibid., 839. Of candel liueray squiyers schalle haue.
a. 1483. Liber Niger, in S. Pegge, Cur. Misc. (1782), 79. Taking every of them, for his livery at night, half a chet loaf, one quart of wine, one gallon of ale; and for winter livery, from All-Hallowtide till Easter, one percher wax, one candle wax [etc.].
c. 1492. Gest R. Hode, clxi. in Child, Ballads, III. 64/1. There he made large lyueray, Bothe of ale and of wyne.
1573. Satir. Poems Reform., xlii. 409. Ȝe ar far large of Leueray.
1596. Spenser, State Irel., Wks. (Globe), 623/2. In great howses, the liverye is sayd to be served up for all night, that is theyr nyghtes allowaunce for drinke.
1639. Davenport, New Trick to Cheat Devil, I. [Stage-direction. Ent. with Wine, Chan.] Chan. I have brought your Livery.
1670. Brooks, Wks. (1867), VI. 47. They serve God for a livery, for loaves, and not for love.
1707. J. Chamberlayne, St. Gt. Brit., II. x. 140. To whom [the Lord Great Chamberlain] belongs Livery and Lodging in the Kings Court.
1861. Our Eng. Home, 81. The butler … dispensed the stores to the cook, and gave out the rations or liveries of meat, wine, and beer.
1875. Stubbs, Const. Hist., III. xxi. 531.
fig. 1633. Ford, Broken H., IV. i. Great (faire one) grace my hopes with any instance Of Liuery, from the allowance of your fauour, This little sparke. [mod. ed. Attempts to take a ring from her finger.]
1643. Sir T. Browne, Relig. Med., I. § 47. I found upon a naturall inclination, and inbred loyalty unto vertue, that I could serve her without a livery.
c. Allowance of provender for horses. At livery: (of a horse) kept for the owner, and fed and groomed at a fixed charge. Now rare or obs. exc. in LIVERY-STABLE.
Coynye and livery: see COYNYE.
a. 1440. Sir Degrev., 1003. A thousaund hors and thre … Ylke nyȝt tok lyvere Off cowrne and off hay.
1481–4. Paston Lett., III. 280. I had my horsse with hym at lyvery.
1596. Spenser, State Irel., Wks. (Globe), 623/2. What Liverye is, we by common use in England knowe well enough, namelye, that it is allowaunce of horse-meate.
1601. Holland, Pliny, I. 559. Champions and wrestlers, whose allowance was much like to the liurie giuen to laboring horses.
1631. Brathwait, Whimzies, Keeper, 49. A keeper of horses at livery.
1679–88. Secr. Serv. Money Chas. & Jas. (Camden), 70. Twelve guineys a year ., which King Cha. the 2d allowed him for a nagg’s livery.
1706. Phillips (ed. Kersey), Livery of Hay and Oats, the giving out a certain Quantity for feeding Horses, &c.
1731. Bailey, vol. II. s.v., To stand at Livery is to be kept at livery stables.
1829. Scott, Rob Roy, xix. There was a necessity … for arresting the horse, and placing him in Baillie Trumbull’s stable, therein to remain at livery, at the rate of twelve shillings (Scotch) per diem.
fig. 1589. Pappe w. Hatchet, D ij b. They finde all themselues good meales, and stand at liuerie as it were, at other mens tables.
1599. Massinger, etc., Old Law, II. i. To keepe you sixe at Liuery, and still munching.
1611. B. Jonson, Introd. Verses, to Coryat, Crudities. And here he disdain’d not, in a forraine land, To lie at Livory, while the Horses did stand.
1618. Fletcher, Chances, III. i. Best hang a sign-post up to tell the Signiors Here ye may have lewdnesse at Liverie.
1647. R. Stapylton, Juvenal, 157. In whose [Venus’] temple at Corinth two hundred maids daily stood at livery.
† d. Stipendiary allowance (for a fellow of a college or the like). Obs.
1587. R. Hovenden, in Collect. (O. H. S.), I. 211. We willinglie and thanckfullie acknowledge great benefitt by the statute mentioned…. But such benefitte as commethe to each on for his liverye risheth cheflie by fynes and woodsales; which liveryes … are in reazon somewhat increased but not dobbled.
1611. Cotgr., s.v. Livree, La Livrée des Chanoines, their liuerie, or corrodie; their stipend, exhibition, daily allowance in victuals or money.
2. A suit of clothes, formerly sometimes a badge or cognizance (e.g., a collar or hood), bestowed by a person upon his retainers or servants and serving as a token by which they may be recognized; in wider sense, a distinctive badge or suit worn by a servant or official, a member of a company, etc.; † formerly, the uniform of a soldier or sailor. In generalized use, the distinctive uniform style of dress worn by a person’s servants, etc. (now only men-servants). In livery: wearing a particular livery. Out of livery: (of a servant) not dressed in livery; wearing plain clothes. † In early use also, a set of distinctive badges or suits; in first quot. = garments, clothes.
13[?]. E. E. Allit. P., A. 1107. And alle in sute her liurez wasse.
1375. Barbour, Bruce, XIX. 36. Thre hundreth and sexte had he Of squyeris, cled in his liverye.
c. 1386. Chaucer, Prol., 363. An haberdasshere and a Carpenter, A Webbe, a Dyere, and a Tapycer, And they were clothed in o lyueree Of a solempne and a greet fraternitee.
1389. in Eng. Gilds (1870), 21. Ye bretheren and sisteren of yis gilde … shul han a lyueree of hodes in suyte.
1399. Langl., Rich. Redeles, II. 79. That no manere meyntenour shulde merkis bere, Ne haue lordis leuere þe lawe to apeire.
c. 1440. Gesta Rom., xv. 51 (Add. MS.). xlti knyghtes of oone leveraye.
1463. Bury Wills (Camden), 41. Bothe my colers of silvir, the kyng’s lyfre.
1473. Warkw., Chron. (Camden), 14. He … wered ane estryche feder, Prynce Edwardes lyvery.
1480. Wardr. Acc. Edw. IV. (1830), 124. A gowne and a hoode of the liveree of the Garter for the Duke de Ferrare.
1485. Caxton, Paris & V., 14. Every baron gaf hys lyverey that they shold be knowen eche fro other.
1522. Wriothesley, Chron. (1875), I. 13. The kinge and he ridinge both together in one liverey.
a. 1548. Hall, Chron., Hen. VI., 173 b. The erle perceiving by the livery of the souldiors, that he was circumvented.
a. 1550[?]. in Dunbar’s Poems (1893), 319. Ȝe noble merchandis … Address ȝow furth … In lusty grene lufraye.
a. 1592. Greene, Geo. a Greene (1599), F 1 b. Two liueries will I giue thee euerie yeere, And fortie crownes shall be thy fee.
1622. Bacon, Hen. VII., 58. Liveries, tokens, and other badges of factious dependance.
1631. Heywood, Lond. Jus Hon., Wks. 1874, IV. 273. All this goodly band … in their City Liveries.
1671. Milton, Samson, 1616. Immediately Was Samson as a public servant brought, In thir state Livery clad.
1684. in Scott. Antiq., XV. 18. Skulking and vagrant persons who have hitherto imitated the livery of the king’s sojors.
1707. Farquhar, Beaux Strat., III. i. 23. What sort of Livery has the Footman?
1710. Lond. Gaz., No. 4710/4. Deserted…, John Stephens, a Serjeant,… having his Serjeant’s Livery on.
1814. Mrs. J. West, Alicia de Lacy, III. 113. Disguised in the livery of a trooper.
1841. Lytton, Nt. & Morn., I. i. A Servant out of livery leaped from the box.
1863. Kinglake, Crimea (1876), I. ii. 28. Hunting the country in the livery of the Salisbury Hunt.
1875. Stubbs, Const. Hist., II. xvii. 610. The king out of compliment wore the livery of the duke of Lancaster.
1900. Blackw. Mag., Dec., 862/2. Servants in claret and yellow livery noiselessly served wine.
β. 1512. Hen. VIII., To Earl Shrewsbury, in Rymer, Foedera (1710), XIII. 338. Badges, Tokens or Lyvers to Were.
1660. trans. Amyraldus’ Treat. conc. Relig., III. i. 303. To wear the liver of an enemy to one’s King.
b. transf. and fig.
c. 1325[?]. Earth, ix. in E. E. P. (1862), 151. Whan erþ makiþ is liuerei he grauiþ vs in grene.
1412–20. Lydg., Chron. Troy, II. xiii. When that Flora … Hath euery playne, medowe, hil and vale … clad in lyuery newe.
1494. Fabyan, Chron., VI. clxxxii. 180. That Rollo shuld … take vpon hym the lyuerey of Cristes baptym.
1563. Homilies, II. Rogation Week, IV. (1859), 495. Love and charity, which is the only livery of a Christian man.
1590. Shaks., Mids. N., II. i. 113. The childing Autumne, angry Winter change Their wonted Liueries.
1611. Cotgr., Liripipionné,… faithfull to the pot, and therefore bearing the red-faced liuerie therof.
1661. Boyle, Style of Script. (1675), 192. White (the livery of innocence).
1667. Milton, P. L., IV. 599. Now … Twilight gray Had in her sober Livery all things clad.
1697. Dryden, Virg. Georg., III. 665. A Snake … has cast his Slough aside, And in his Summer Liv’ry rouls along.
1722. Wollaston, Relig. Nat., v. 96. Trees receive annually their peculiar liveries, and bear their proper fruits.
1734. Berkeley, Analyst, § 1, Wks. 1871, III. 258. Clothing themselves in the livery of other men’s opinions.
1797–1804. Bewick, Brit. Birds (1847), II. 112. The females may be seen in the livery either complete or partial, of the past Season.
1813. Scott, Rokeby, I. 1. Sorrow’s livery dims the air.
1835. Thirlwall, Greece, I. viii. 31. The rustic garb, which was the livery of his servitude.
3. collect. sing. a. Retainers or servants in livery. † Also occas. a liveried servant. ? Obs.
1413. Pilgr. Sowle (Caxton, 1483), V. xiii. 104. In these ryall festes the kyng yeueth his leuery ful ryche and ryal robes.
a. 1577. Sir T. Smith, Commw. Eng. (1609), 106. First of retainers, that no man should haue aboue a number in his Liuery or retinue.
1628. Shirley, Witty Fair One, I. ii. (1633). Her Father … rides … With halfe a douzen wholesome Liueries, To whom he gives Christian wages. Ibid., II. ii. My lodging is next to her chambers, it is a confidence in my Master to let his Liuery lye so neere her.
1714. Steele, Lover, 11 March (1723), 38. Seeing a Place in the second Row of the Queen’s Box kept by Mrs. Lucy’s Livery, I placed my self in the Pit directly over against her Footman.
1766. Chesterf., Lett. to C’tess Suffolk, Nov. (1892), III. 1349. If she is a Mrs. with a surname, she is above the livery, and belongs to the upper servants.
1791–1823. D’Israeli, Cur. Lit. (1866), 450/2. As cross-humoured as the livery of this day, in their notices of what we now gently call our ‘supplies.’
† b. Used for: Following, faction. (Cf. F. livrée in the sense of ‘party.’) Under (a person’s) livery: in dependence on him. Obs.
c. 1477. Caxton, Jason, 116 b. As to the regarde of Hercules, Theseus [etc.] … they faylled not to be of the lyuereye of Iason.
a. 1548. Hall, Chron., Hen. VII., 12. To compasse that the duchy of Bryteyne should breuely come vndre their liure and subjeccion.
1613. Milles, trans. Mexia’s Treas. Anc. & Mod. Times, 722/2. All the other Christians, as Maronites … and others of that Liverie, never used it [circumcision].
c. = livery company (see 10 b) or the liverymen of a company. Also, To take up one’s livery (? orig. in sense 2): to become a liveryman of one of the City companies.
c. 1521. Old City Acc. Bk., in Archaeol. Jrnl. (1886), XLIII. 169 Receyved of Brether admittid & taken into the lyu’ey [note Livery] this yere.
1529. in Vicary’s Anat. (1888), App. xiv. 252. A Remedye agaynst theym that wyll not be of the lyuerey, nor bere offyce.
1624. Massinger, Renegado, III. ii. I should … nere be pittied By the liueries of those companies.
1637. Decree Star Chamb., in Milton’s Areop. (Arb.), 17. Euery Master-printer that is of the Liuery of his Company.
1706. Phillips (ed. Kersey), s.v., The Livery or Livery-men of a Company or Corporation, such Members as are advanc’d to a Degree above the Yeomanry, and have a Right to wear a Livery-gown upon solemn Occasions.
1839. Penny Cycl., XIV. 119/1. (London) Certain senior members of the livery, who form what is commonly called ‘The Court of Assistants.’ Ibid. In more modern times … it has frequently been made imperative upon many freemen of the City to take up their livery in one of the Companies.
1854. Thackeray, Newcomes, v. We belong to the same Livery in the City.
† d. slang. (See quot.) Obs.
1680. Betterton, Revenge, I. 8. ’Tis … out of fashion now to call things by their right names. Is a Citizen a Cuckold? no, he’s one of the Liverie.
† 4. The lodging provided or appointed for a person. Also, the quarters of a portion of an army. Obs.
a. 1400[?]. Morte Arth., 241. The soueraingne … Assingnyde to the senatour certaygne lordes, To lede to his leuere. Ibid., 3078. In iche leuere on lowde the kynge did crye.
1525. Ld. Berners, Froiss., II. clx. [clvi.] 440. The duke of Berrey was come to Auygnon and was lodged in the popes palais, but he came to Vyle neufe to the kynge, and laye in the lyuere [footn. hotel; Fr. en sa liuree] of arras, called Amontays, in the way to Mountpellyer.
5. Law. a. The legal delivery of property into a person’s possession; phr. to have, give, take livery. To sue (also sue for, sue out) one’s livery: to institute a suit as heir to obtain possession of lands which are in the hands of the court of wards. (Also fig.) b. The writ by which possession of property is obtained from the court of wards.
1430–31. Rolls of Parlt., IV. 372/2. Noght havyng liveree of the saide Wolles. Ibid. (1460), V. 388/1. The Sollicitours for the Quene … causid the seid John and Isabell to sue a speciall Livere of the seid Londes and Tenementes.
1465. Paston Lett., II. 192. He desyryd me to mak hym levery of the seyd bests so taken.
1531. Dial. on Laws Eng., I. vii. 13 b. By way of surrendre … a freholde may passe without lyuerey.
1593. Shaks., Rich. II., II. i. 129. I am denyde to sue my Liuerie here, And yet my Letters Patents giue me leaue.
1603. Owen, Pembrokeshire (1891), 155. The Courte of Wardes and liveries, doeth allso call all Wardes in Wales to sue forth their lyveries there.
1622. Bacon, Hen. VII., 210. The Kings Wards after they had accomplished their full Age, could not bee suffered to haue Liuerie of their Lands, without paying excessiue Fines.
1635. Quarles, Embl., V. ix. (1718), 281. What mean these liv’ries and possession keys?
1649. Milton, Eikon., xi. Wks. 1851, III. 426. It concern’d them first to sue out their Livery from the unjust wardship of his encroaching Prerogative.
1656. Blount, Glossogr., Livery … 3. It is the Writ which lies for the heir to obtain the possession or seizin of his lands at the Kings hands.
1660. Act 12 Chas. II., c. 24 § 1. It is hereby Enacted That the Court of Wardes and Liveries and all Wardships Liveries Primer-Seizins and Ouster-le-mains … be taken away and discharged.
1707. J. Chamberlayne, State Gt. Brit., II. vi. 98. He [the king’s eldest son] may that Day sue for the Livery of the said Dukedom [of Cornwall] and ought of Right to obtain the same.
1765. Act 5 Geo. III., c. 17 § 1. Tythes or other incorporeal hereditaments only, which lie in grant and not in livery.
1818. Cruise, Digest (ed. 2), IV. 318. Sir J. Palmer thought, that in a deed to pass an inheritance, where there was a common in gross, the word grant was absolutely necessary; for it could not pass by the livery.
1827. Hallam, Const. Hist. (1876), III. xviii. 384. The recusants were allowed to sue for livery of their estates in the court of wards.
1875. Poste, Gaius, II. Comm. (ed. 2), 173. In English law conveyance by livery was an older title than conveyance by deed.
c. Livery of seisin (freq. erron. livery and seisin; AF. livery de seisin): the delivery of property into the corporal possession of a person; in the case of a house, by giving him the ring, latch or key of the door; in the case of land, by delivering him a twig, a piece of turf, or the like.
Virtually abolished by 8 & 9 Vict. cap. 106 § 2, which provides that after 1 Oct. 1845 ‘all corporeal Tenements and Hereditaments shall as regards the Conveyance of the immediate Freehold thereof, be deemed to lie in Grant as well as in Livery.’
c. 1475. Partenay, 560. After sette day of lyuerey and season, That men deliuer you possession.
1574. trans. Littleton’s Tenures, 13 a. In a leas for terme of yeares by deede or without deede, it nedeth no lyvery of seisin to be made to the lessee.
1596. Spenser, F. Q., VI. iv. 37. She gladly did of that same babe accept As of her owne by liuerey and seisin.
1608. Dod & Cleaver, Expos. Prov. xi.–xii. 189. How large demeanes may a man be estated in by taking a turfe in way of liuery and seison?
1652. Evelyn, Mem. (1857). I. 297. 22nd [Jan.] was perfected the sealing, livery and seisin of my purchase of Sayes Court.
1741. T. Robinson, Gavelkind, II. iii. 195. The Livery of Seisin must be propriâ manu of the Infant.
1818. Cruise, Digest (ed. 2), IV. 57. Livery of seisin is exactly similar to the investiture of the feudal law; it was adopted here … that the proprietor of each piece of land should be publicly known.
1876. Freeman, Norm. Conq., V. xxii. 24. He who could neither show his writ, nor bring evidence of personal livery of seisin, was held to have no lawful claim to the lands which he held.
transf. and fig. 1628. Jackson, Creed, IX. ix. § 5. Abraham in that sacred banquet which the King of Salem exhibited to him did (as we say) take levery de seisin of the promised land.
1651. Biggs, New Disp., ¶ 180. The Feaver, who hath now taken livery and seisen.
1659. Hammond, On Ps. cx. 7. 566. To take livery and seizin of an hostile Countrey.
† 6. gen. The action of handing over or conveying into a person’s hands; delivery (of goods, money, etc., of a writ). Obs.
c. 1400. Beryn, 1896. The marchandise within Is nat in my charge; ye know as wele as I To make therof no lyuery.
c. 1440. York Myst., xxv. 65. What are ȝe þat makis here maistrie, To loose þes bestis with-oute leverie?
1442. Rolls of Parlt., V. 64/2. At the tyme of the sale, and tofore the lyvere of hem from the seid Staple. Ibid. (1444), 125/2. Upon the levere of him so arrested. Ibid. (1464), 560/2. After the lyvere of the said Writte.
1465. Paston Lett., II. 192. He desyred me to mak hym levery of the seyd bests so taken.
1579–80. North, Plutarch, Camillus (1595), 150. He sent an Herauld before to Rome, to demand liuerie of the man that had offended him, that he might punish him accordingly.
1745. Observ. conc. Navy, 14. Had they arrived in the Ship at her Port of Livery.
† b. Delivery or dealing (of blows). Obs.
c. 1350. Will. Palerne, 1233. Þanne lente he swiche leuere to ledes þat he ofrauȝt, Þat [etc.]. Ibid., 3822. William … leide on swiche liuere … þat [etc.].
13[?]. Coer de L., 4029. Swilke levery he hem delte, Al that he hytte anon they swelte.
1399. Langl., Rich. Redeles, III. 330. They … lente hem leuere of her longe battis.
c. 1400. Laud Troy Bk., 7613. Ector deled about lyueray To alle that euere come in his way.
† 7. A due or tribute. Cf. med.L. livrea (Du Cange). Obs. rare–1.
1577. Harrison, England, II. ii. (1877), I. 58. S. Davids hath Penbroke and Caermardine shires, whose liuerie or first fruits to the see of Rome was one thousand and five hundred ducats at the hardest.
8. A particular sort of wool (see quot. 1837).
1837. Youatt, Sheep, iii. 67. The livery—principally the skirtings and edgings, and the short coarse or breech wool, that which comes from the breech of the animal.
1843. Penny Cycl., XXVII. 551/1. The [wool] sorter has to make his selection in relation to the fineness, the softness, the strength, the colour, the cleanness, and the weight of the wool; and in reference to these qualities he separates the wool into many parcels, which receive the names of—‘prime,’ ‘choice,’… ‘fine abb,’ ‘coarse abb,’ ‘livery,’ &c.
1875. in Knight, Dict. Mech., s.v. Wool-sorting.
9. U.S. = LIVERY-STABLE. (Cent. Dict.)
10. attrib. and Comb. a. Simple attrib. passing into adj., in various senses: (a) † given as or constituting a livery; intended for servants’ use (obs.), as livery arrows, bedstead, bow, feather-bed, meal, towel; (b) pertaining to, forming part of, or used as a livery, as livery beard, button, cloak (in quot. fig.), cloth, coat, collar, colo(u)r, gown, hat, lace, plush, red, suit; (c) kept at livery or for hire, as livery horse, nag; transf. livery friend, mistress, punk; (d) wearing a livery, as livery attendant.
1549. Privy Council Acts (1890), II. 350. *Lyverey arrowes, xvc shef.
1599. Nashe, Lenten Stuffe, Ep. Ded. His patient *liuery attendant.
1641. Brome, Joviall Crew, IV. i. Wks. 1873, III. 417. All the Servants wear *Livery-Beards.
1610. Althorp MS., in Simpkinson, The Washingtons, App. p. iv. The Butler’s Chamber. Impr. a *leverye bedstead, with a tester of buckram.
1566. Act 8 Eliz., c. 10 § 3. Bowes … of the course sorte, called *Livery Bowes.
1590. Sir J. Smyth, Disc. Weapons, 19 b. All Liueray or warre Bowes.
1848. Thackeray, Bk. Snobs, xxxiv. A *livery-button maker.
1599. Marston, Sco. Villanie, 167. Sirra, *liuorie cloake, you lazie slipper slave.
1791. Learmont, Poems, 179. Ye gie them wage, board, *livery-claith.
1842. Bischoff, Woollen Manuf., II. 151. I have sold a large quantity of livery cloths for the use of London.
1551. T. Wilson, Logike, 45 b. A *liverie coate garded with velvet.
1575–85. Abp. Sandys, Serm., v. 83. Loue is the Liuerie-coate of Christ.
1820. Scott, Abbot, vi. Showing you it was your Lady’s livery-coat which I spared, and not your flesh and blood, Master Roland.
1473. in Ld. Treas. Acc. Scotl. (1877), I. 68. A *leueray colare of the Kingis.
1621. Bury Wills (Camden), 167. Two of the ordinarie *lyverie fetherbedes.
a. 1637. B. Jonson, Disc. (1641), 105. They have *Livery-friends, friends of the dish, and of the Spit.
1462. Paston Lett., II. 120. I have but on gowne at Framyngham and an other here, and that is my *levere gowne.
1606. Progr. Jas. I. (1828), II. 67. The Companies of London, in their lyverie-gownes and hoodes.
1778. Eng. Gazetteer (ed. 2), s.v. Hartford, The chief bailiff was then allowed by the king 20s. a year for his livery-gown.
1890. Army & Navy Stores Catal., March, 1173. *Livery Hat.
1865. Mrs. Carlyle, Lett., III. 301. Putting Mr. C. to the cost of a *livery-horse.
1701. Lond. Gaz., No. 3716/4. Some new Cloth and *Livery-Lace.
1799. J. Robertson, Agric. Perth, 341. The practise of giving them six and a half bolls of meal … is daily becoming more general. These farmers, who keep any married servants, have them all on this establishment of *livery meal.
1623. Massinger, Dk. Milan, IV. ii. He that at euerie stage keeps *liuerie Mistresses.
1784. Cowper, Tiroc., 901. Wouldst thou with a Gothic hand Pull down the schools … Or throw them up to *liv’ry-nags and grooms?
1851. Illustr. Catal. Gt. Exhib., 1055. *Livery plushes, of various qualities.
1624. Massinger, Renegado, III. ii. His ships, his goods, his *liuery-puncks, confiscate.
1708. Lond. Gaz., No. 4447/4. Their *Livery Red, lin’d and fac’d with Yellow. Ibid. (1705), No. 4162/4. Two *Livery-Suits, of a deep blue.
1888. A. Wardrop, Poems & Sk., 232. John, that livery suit and hat, please.
1582. Wills & Inv. N. C. (Surtees, 1860), 46. vij long table towells, and iiij *liveraye towells.
b. Special comb.: livery company, one of the London City companies that had formerly a distinctive costume used for special occasions; † livery cupboard, a cupboard in which ‘liveries’ of food were served out; in later times, app. an ornamental buffet or sideboard; livery fine, the payment due from those who become liverymen in a London company; livery-fish Anglo-Irish, the striped wrasse, Labrus mixtus; livery list, the list of the liverymen of a company; livery office (see quot.); † livery pot, a pot in which ‘liveries’ of wine were served out; livery servant, (a) a servant who wears livery; (b) = livery-fish; † livery table, a table on which ‘liveries’ or rations were put; hence, a side table; livery tavern, an inn at which horses may be kept at livery. Also LIVERY-MAN, LIVERY-STABLE.
1766. Entick, London, IV. 73. This is also a *livery company.
1871. W. H. Ainsworth, Tower Hill, I. ix. The barges of the twelve livery companies.
1571. Bury Wills (Camden), 267. A carpet for the *lyvery cubberd.
1632. J. Hayward, trans. Biondi’s Eromena, 184. The livery cupbords of gold inlaid with rich pretious stones.
1737. trans. Le Comte’s Mem. & Rem. China, vi. 172. A livery cupboard borne by the officers of the palace.
1821. Scott, Kenilw., xxxii. The livery cupboards were loaded with plate of the richest description.
1837. 2nd Rep. Munic. Corp. Comm., Lond. Companies, 18. Prior to the 15th December 1796, the *Livery fine was 13l. 6s. 8d.
1880–4. F. Day, Brit. Fishes, I. 258. Cook wrasse, blue-striped wrasse,… Livery-servant and *livery-fish in the north of Ireland.
1867. Evening Star, 4 Oct. The proceedings in the City Registration Court during the revision of the *Livery lists.
1848. Wharton, Law Lex., *Livery-office, an office appointed for the delivery of lands.
1575. Laneham, Lett. (1871), 8. A payree [sic] of great whyte syluer *lyuery Pots for wyne.
1656. Finett, For. Ambass., 133. An old guilt Livery Pot that had lost its fellow.
1702. Order in Council, 8 March, in Lond. Gaz., No. 3791/4. That … all Lords … do … cloath their *Livery Servants with Black Cloth.
1822. Hazlitt, Table-t., II. ii. 24. They will go in the character of livery-servants to stand behind the chairs of the great.
1601. Holland, Pliny, II. 297. To remoue the cupbourd of plate, & *liuery table [L. mensam vel repositorium], whiles one of the guests is a drinking.
1650. Fuller, Pisgah, V. xviii. 173. I conceive therefore the other nine [Tables of Shew Bread], onely as side-cupboards, or Livery tables ministeriall to that principall one.
1787. M. Cutler, in Life, Jrnls. & Corr. (1888), I. 252. My companion conducted me to … a *livery tavern.
Hence † Liveryless a.
1598. [see LIVERLESS].
