Hist. Also 8 stinkirk. [a. F. (cravate à la) Steinkerke, Steinkerque, from the victory of Steenkerke (Belgium) gained by the French over the English and their allies on 3 Aug. 1692.
It has long been common to give the names of victories to new patterns of attire, etc., introduced about the time of the battle. It is said that in France the designation à la Steinkerke had a great temporary vogue as applied to clothing, jewellery, cosmetics, and the like. According to Voltaire, the original cravate à la Steinkerke simulated the appearance of negligence, in allusion to the disordered dress of the French nobles when hastily summoned to the battle.]
A kind of neckcloth (worn both by men and women), having long laced ends hanging down or twisted together, and passed through a loop or ring.
1694. D’Urfey, Don Quixote, I. Prol. The Modish Spark may Paint, and lie in Paste, Wear a buge Steinkirk twisted to his Waste.
a. 1695. Halifax, Wks. (1912), 162. If the Judges upon the Bench should … be Cloathed like the Jockeys at New-Market, or wear Jack-Boots and Steenkirks.
1695. Congreve, Love for L., I. xiii. [xiv.] There are huge Proportion’d Criticks, with long Wigs, Lac’d Coats, Steinkerk Cravats, and terrible Faces.
1697. Dryden, Virg. Past., Pref. ****2 b. The Beau presses into their Dressing-Room,… to adjust his own Steenzkirk [sic] and Peruke.
1704. Cibber, Careless Husb., V. 54. Stage-dir., Takes her Steinkirk from her Neck, and lays it gently over his Head.
1707. Mrs. Centlivre, Platonick Lady, III. i. Milliner. And a long Neck and a hollow Breast, first made use of the Stinkirk.
1711. Addison, Spect., No. 128, ¶ 11. A Fashion makes its Progress much slower into Cumberland than into Cornwall…. The Steenkirk arrived but two months ago in Newcastle.
1818. Scott, Rob Roy, xxxi. I had yielded up my cravat (a smart Steinkirk,… and richly laced).
1854. Ainsworth, Jack Sheppard, III. xiii. [He wore] a muslin cravat, or steenkirk, as it was termed, edged with the finest point lace.
1869. Mrs. Palliser, Lace, xxv. 300. These old-fashioned articles of jewellery were worn to fasten … the lace Steinkirk.
