[The name of the capital of Prussia, used attrib., and transferred to things that come or were supposed to come thence.]
1. An old-fashioned four-wheeled covered carriage, with a seat behind covered with a hood. [Also Berline from Fr.; so in Ger. Introduced by an officer of the Elector of Brandenburg, c. 1670.]
1731. Swift, Answ. Simile, Wks. 1755, IV. I. 222.
| And jealous Juno ever snarling, | |
| Is drawn by peacocks in her berlin. |
1746. Chesterf., Lett., I. cxiii. 307. Your distresses in your journey … and your broken Berline.
1850. Alison, Hist. Europe, II. vi. § 79. 75. They entered a berline which was ready harnessed by M. de Fersen’s care.
2. Short for ‘Berlin wool.’
1881. Girls Own Paper, II. 420/3. Any of the Scotch fingering yarns are too thin, but double Berlin … will do.
3. Short for ‘Berlin Glove’: A knitted glove (of Berlin wool).
1836. Dickens, Sk. Boz, Tuggses at Ramsgate. A fat man in black tights, and cloudy Berlins. Ibid., Astley’s. The dirty white Berlin Gloves.
4. Attrib. or Comb., as Berlin black, a black varnish used for coating the better kinds of ironware; Berlin blue = PRUSSIAN BLUE, or the finest kind of it; Berlin castings, ornamental objects imported from Prussia, of Berlin iron, a very fusible quality of iron, smelted from bog-ore, containing much phosphorus, and suitable for casting figures and delicate articles, which are often lacquered or bronzed; Berlin ware, an earthenware of a quality that resists the action of most chemical re-agents; Berlin warehouse, a shop or repository for Berlin wool and similar fancy wares; Berlin wool, a fine dyed wool used for knitting, tapestry, and the like; Berlin work, fancy work in Berlin wool, worsted embroidery.
