‖ tablier
(tablie)
[Fr. tablier: see tabler1.]
† 1. A chess-board; = tabler1 1. Obs. rare—1.
| 1474 Caxton Chesse iv. i. I. vij, For to represente the mesure of this cyte, in whiche this playe or game was founden, the philosopher that fond hit first ordeyned a tablier conteynyng lxiiij poyntes square. |
2. A part of a lady's dress resembling an apron; the front of a skirt cut or trimmed in the form of an apron.
| 1835 Court Mag. VI. p. xvii/2 The skirts of these latter are closed before, and trimmed with folds in the form of a tablier. 1862 Eng. Wom. Dom. Mag. IV. 236/1 The dress..ornamented in front with a tablier of white satin. 1885 Pall Mall. G. 29 Jan. 9/1 The bride..wore a dress of striped white satin with pearl tablier in front and net veil. 1903 Daily Chron. 30 May 8/4 At the edge of the tablier skirt that falls loosely over the deep flounce. 1908 Ibid. 4 Aug. 7/5 [The gown] has what the French call a ‘tablier’, that is a plain breadth let in down the front of the skirt. |
3. Name for the enlarged labia pudendi characteristic of Hottentot women.
| 1893 Edin. Rev. Apr. 294 The tablier is usual among their women and believed to be a mark of race. |