Also 7–8 ban-box. [f. BAND sb.2 + BOX.] A slight box of card-board or very thin chip covered with paper, for collars, caps, hats, and millinery; originally made for the ‘bands’ or ruffs of the 17th c.
1631. T. Powell, Tom All Trades, 173. Carrying the Band-box under their apron.
1633. Rowley, Match at Midn., IV. in Dodsl. (1780), VII. 413. Enter Maid with a band-box. Constable. How, now! where ha’ you been?… Maid. For my mistress’s ruff, at her sempstress’.
1712. Addison, Spect., No. 311, ¶ 1. I … do not suffer a Ban-box to be carried into her Room before it has been searched.
1720. Gay, Poems (1745), I. 189. With empty ban-box she delights to range.
1758. J. S., Le Dran’s Observ. Surg. (1771), 340. Such Wood as they make Bandboxes … with.
1859. Helps, Friends in C., Ser. II. II. viii. 148. A thing … to be chiefly kept in a bandbox.
b. attrib. Bandbox thing: (cf. prec. quot.)
1774. Westm. Mag., II. 454. The good man … turned the eye of contempt upon the Band-box Thing, and … said, ‘I believe ’tis a Doll.’
a. 1852. Moore, Country Dance & Quad., xiii. 51. A band-box thing, all art and lace, Down from her nose-tip to her shoe-tie.
