ˈrobing, vbl. n.
[f. robe v. + -ing1.]
1. Apparel, array; a costume or gown.
| c 1470 Golagros & Gaw. 1265 Yone riche cummis arait in riche robbing. 1760–72 H. Brooke Fool of Qual. (1809) IV. 143 He seized the hem of her robing, and glued it to his mouth. 1853 Kane Grinnell Exp. xxxiv. (1856) 302 The three under-shirts, the fur outer robing, and the seal⁓skin boots. 1867 Mrs. Whitney L. Goldthwaite ix, Her accumulating treasure of reserved robings. 1888 Pall Mall G. 20 Mar. 5/2 The woman whose graceful personality shines through her robing. |
2. A trimming in the form of bands or stripes upon a gown or robe.
| 1727 Mrs. Delany Life & Corr. (1861) I. 143 Gold chains..were tacked on the robings of their gowns in loose scollops in the manner of a galloon. 1741 Richardson Pamela I. 49, I made Robings and Facings of a pretty Bit of printed Calico, I had by me. 1747 Garrick Miss in her Teens i, I'd give the world I had put on my pink and silver robings to-day. 1814 Hist. Univ. of Oxford I. 111 The Doctors in Divinity being distinguished by robeings of black fur. 1886 St. James's Gaz. 25 Sept. 11/1 The most lovely trimmings are of large panels and stripes, or robings, composed partly of lace, partly of beaded passementerie. |
3. The action of putting on robes.
| 1838 Dickens Nich. Nick. xxv, This pious reasoning supported the bride through the ceremony of robing. |
4. attrib., as robing-table; robing-room, a room specially appropriated to the putting on the official robes; so robing accommodation.
| 1711–2 Swift Journal to Stella 2 Jan., So I only went into the robing-room, to give my four brothers joy. 1830 Macaulay in Trevelyan 10 Feb., Brougham..has blamed Lord Lansdowne in the robing-room of the Court of the King's Bench. 1859 Dickens T. Two Cities ii. iv, Stryver shouldered his way back to the robing-room. 1897 Daily News 15 Oct. 5/1 Robing accommodation will be provided. 1927 T. Wilder Bridge San Luis Rey ii. 19, I slipped into the sacristy, climbed the robing-table..and walked in. |