or clothes, dress, etc., subs. phr. (common).—Best clothes. [As worn on Sundays, or holiday occasions.]
1837–40. HALIBURTON (‘Sam Slick’), The Clockmaker, p. 243 (Ed. 1862). If he hadn’t his GO-TO-MEETIN’ DRESS and looks on this day to the jury, it’s a pity.
1853. REV. E. BRADLEY (‘Cuthbert Bede’), The Adventures of Mr. Verdant Green, an Oxford Freshman, Pt. II., p. 5. Besides his black GO-TO-MEETING BAGS please to observe the peculiarity, etc.
1856. T. HUGHES, Tom Brown’s School-days, pt. II., ch. v. I want to give you a true picture of what every-day school life was in my time, and not a kid-glove and GO-TO-MEETING-COAT picture.
1857. C. KINGSLEY, Two Years Ago, ii., iv. Looks right well to-day, in her GO-TO-MEETING CLOTHES.
