▪ I. robe, n.1
(rəʊb)
Also 5 roob(e, 6 robbe, 6–7 roab(e; Sc. 5–7 rob, 5 rowb.
[a. OF. robe (robbe, roube), = Prov. rouba, Catal. and It. roba, Sp. ropa, Pg. roupa; the stem is that of the verb rob, the original sense being ‘spoil, booty’, as in OF.]
1. a. A long loose outer garment reaching to the feet or the ankles, worn by both sexes in the Middle Ages, and still by men of some Eastern nations; a gown. Now rare, except as in 2.
c 1275 Passion Our Lord 66 in O.E. Misc. 39 Ne hedde he none robe of fowe ne of gray. a 1300 Cursor M. 3676 His moder..cled him..Wit his broþer robe. 1340 Ayenb. 119 Yef me yefþ ine þe kinges cort ane robe to ane childe. 1377 Langl. P. Pl. B. xiii. 227 And fewe robes I fonge or furred gounes. 1422 tr. Secreta Secret., Priv. Priv. 151 Hym Suffysid a lytill graue..for his halle, and for his roob. 1474 Caxton Chesse 4 Theym that ben clad in thy clothyng and robys. 1501 Douglas Pal. Hon. ii. iii, With lawreir crownit, in robbis side all new, Of a fassoun. 1582 Stanyhurst æneis ii. (Arb.) 68 Theare [is] wardrob abundant Of roabs most pretiouse. 1601 Holland Pliny xxxiv. v, In auncient time all the Images and Statues erected to the honour of any men, were in their gownes and robes. 1667 Milton P.L. ii. 543 As when Alcides..felt th' envenom'd robe. 1730–46 Thomson Autumn 1240 The glittering robe Of every hue reflected light can give. 1796 Hunter St. Pierre's Stud. Nat. II. 511 Turbans and flowing robes are adapted to hot countries. 1840 Thirlwall Greece VII. 89 The looms of Ionia were kept in constant activity to supply purple robes for the courtiers. 1877 Bryant Odyss. v. 278 The nymph too, in a robe of silver white,..Arrayed herself. |
transf. 1595 Shakes. John ii. i. 141 O well did he become that Lyons robe, That did disrobe the Lion of that robe. |
fig. 1611 Bible Isaiah lxi. 10 He hath couered me with the robe of righteousnes. 1628 Milton Vac. Exerc. 21 Hail native Language,..cull those richest Robes, and gay'st attire Which deepest Spirits, and choicest Wits desire. 1667 ― P.L. x. 222. |
b. A trade name for a special form of lady's dress; a piece of material, either plain or embroidered, partly shaped for a gown.
1878 Sylvia's Home Jrnl. Feb., Ball dress (robe Princess), of blue faille. 1892 Fashions of To-day May 13 Robe of old gold velvet, collar of passementerie. 1899 World of Dress Jan. 3 Handsome embroidered chenille robe. Ibid., White and cream lace robes in enormous variety. |
c. A dressing-gown. See also bath robe s.v. bath n.1 VI.
1854 Dickens Hard T. ii. viii. 223 She arose, put on a loose robe, and went out of her room in the dark. 1931 J. B. Fagan Improper Duchess i. 25, I puta on my silk robe, I go down to his rooms. 1938 M. Allingham Fashion in Shrouds vi. 73 ‘Robe's’ the new name for dressing-gown. 1945 ‘L. Lewis’ Birthday Murder (1951) x. 152 She..put on the white terry-cloth robe. 1955 T. Sterling Evil of Day xiii. 134 A man in a robe and slippers. 1957 F. & R. Lockridge Practise to Deceive (1959) xiii. 181 Susan wore a white towelling robe. 1966 Wall St. Jrnl. 7 Jan. 2/2 Penney officials noted heavy sales in women's robes and sleepwear. 1970 G. F. Newman Sir, You Bastard viii. 246 Tying his robe, he stepped out and along to the kitchen. 1976 New Yorker 26 Jan. 50/3 At lunch, Mrs Fox, still in pajamas, slippers, and robe, nearly drops a tray on Mrs Tompkins' head. |
2. a. A long outer garment of a special form and material worn in virtue of, and betokening, a particular rank, calling, condition, or office.
c 1290 Beket 324 in S. Eng. Leg. I. 116 Þe Abite of Monek he nam, And a-boue al þan clerkene Robe. a 1300 Cursor M. 9072 Tas of..mi king rob..þat i wer. 1362 Langl. P. Pl. A. iii. 277 Schal no seriaunt for þat seruise were a selk houue, Ne no Ray Robe wiþ Riche pelure. 1484 Caxton Curiall 4 Oftymes the peple make grete wondrynges of the ryche robe of the courtyour. 1537 Starkey Let. in England (1878) p. lxv, Master Pole hathe gotten the Cardynallys hatte & robbe made. 1596 Shakes. 1 Hen. IV, iii. ii. 56 Thus I did keepe my Person fresh and new, My Presence like a Robe Pontificall Ne're seene, but wondred at. 1603 ― Meas. for M. ii. ii. 61 Nor the deputed sword, The Marshalls Truncheon, nor the Iudges Robe. 1778 Potter æschylus, To Mrs. Montague (1808) p. xxviii, My pontifical robe trailing on the pavement. 1841 Lane Arab. Nts. I. 85 He then bestowed upon him a robe of honour. 1855 Macaulay Hist. Eng. xiv. III. 382 Johnson had therefore been stripped of his robe by persons who had no jurisdiction over him. |
fig. 1837 J. H. Newman Par. Serm. I. xxvi. 398 Surely these attainments are but our first manly robe. |
b. pl. with the same connotation. Often with qualifying word prefixed, as coronation robes, parliament robes, etc. Master, Mistress, Yeoman, of the Robes: see these words.
1445 tr. Claudian in Anglia XXVIII. 259 With whos preyers he lyst be mevid to clothe him in his roobys..as consulers vsid before. c 1450 Merlin vii. 110 But first hadde Arthur the kynge put on hym an habergon vndir his robes. 1526 Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W. 1531) 156 b, Though the kynge were before hym in his robes of golde. 1596 Shakes. 1 Hen. IV, v. i. 12 You haue..made vs doffe our easie Robes of Peace. a 1618 Sylvester Wks. (Grosart) II. 61 Their garments passe..The glorious Salomon's rich roabes of Parliament. 1671 Milton P.R. iv. 64 Pretors, Proconsuls to thir Provinces Hasting or on return, in robes of State. a 1715 Burnet Own Time iii. (1724) I. 499 He put on his robes in hast,..and called up the Commons. 1769 Sir W. Jones Seven Sisters Poems (1777) 35 Accept the robes and sceptre of the land. 1832 G. Downes Lett. Cont. Countries I. 248 The senators and magistrates of Rome appear clad in the ecclesiastical robes of the period, in which the manuscript was written. 1849 Macaulay Hist. Eng. v. I. 592 The..aldermen came in their robes to welcome the Duke. |
3. a. pl. Outer garments or clothes in general.
c 1575 Gascoigne Flowers Wks. (1575) 44 You shall knowe the cause, wherefore these roabes are worne, And why I goe outlandishe lyke, yet being Englishe borne. 1596 Shakes. Tam. Shr. i. ii. 132 Now shal my friend Petruchio do me grace, And offer me disguis'd in sober robes, To old Baptista. Ibid. iii. ii. 114 See not your Bride in these vn⁓reuerent robes. 1770 Goldsm. Des. Vill. 336 She left her wheel and robes of country brown. |
b. fig. A covering or vesture compared to a long enveloping garment.
1623 Drummond of Hawthornden Poems Wks. (1711) 25 The Moon..Impearling with her Tears her Rob of Night. 1633 Ibid. 39 Now, ancient Caledon, Thy Beauties heighten, richest Robs put on. 1697 W. Dampier Voy. (1729) I. 165 In a weeks time the Tree casts off her old Robes, and is cloathed in a new pleasant Garb. 1727–46 Thomson Summer 92 Prime cheerer, Light!.. Nature's resplendent robe! 1849 Robertson Serm. Ser. i. ii. (1866) 38 Before the world has put on its full robe of light. 1864 Tennyson Aylmer's F. 158 Another [cottage] wore A close-set robe of jasmine. |
4. a. the long robe, (the dress of) the legal or clerical profession; the short robe, (that of) ‘all that profess arms, or usually wear swords’ (Cotgr.). So both robes, either robe.
1601– [see long robe]. 1622 Bacon Hen. VII (1876) 127 He sent..commissioners of both robes, the prior of Lanthony to be his chancellor..; and Sir Edward Poynings..with a civil power of his lieutenant. a 1641 Bp. R. Montagu Acts & Mon. (1642) 95 A Sanhedrim, or standing great Councell,..made up of both Robes, honourable persons amongst their brethren, Priests and Laicks both. 1642–3 in Rushw. Hist. Coll. (1721) II. iii. 137 They have spared..no Orders of Men, the long Robe as well as the Short hath felt their Fury. 1672 Marvell Reh. Transp. i. 282 There was a gentleman of your robe a Dignitary of Lincoln. 1711 Steele Spect. No. 157 ¶6 Our learned Men of either Robe. 1712–1875 [see long robe]. |
b. the Robe, the legal profession.
1647 Clarendon Hist. Reb. i. §96 He was a son of the Robe; his Father having been a Judge in the Court of the Common Pleas. 1671 Buccleuch MSS. (Hist. MSS. Comm.) I. 497 Mr. Commartin..is a man of the robe, but in very good esteem with everybody. 1707 Refl. upon Ridicule 109 The most eminent Persons of the Robe. 1770 Foote Lame Lover iii, I was some years in the Temple; but the death of my brother robb'd the robe of my labours. 1850 Thackeray Pendennis xxix, The cadets of many of our good families follow the robe as a profession. 1855 Motley Dutch Rep. I. 377 Rich advocates, and other Gentlemen of the Robe. |
5. transf. Persons of high estate. rare—1.
1589 Warner Alb. Eng. vi. xxxiii. (1602) 163 So plagueth ciuill Warre, and so from Robe to Rag doth scoure. |
6. U.S. and Canada. The dressed skin of a buffalo (musk-ox, etc.) used as a garment or rug.
1836 Backwoods of Canada 55 A light waggon comfortably lined with buffalo robes. 1848 Bartlett Dict. Amer. s.v., A pack of robes, is ten skins, tied in a pack, which is the manner in which they are brought from the far West to market. 1892 W. Pike Barren Ground N. Canada 106 The robes were in splendid condition; the undergrowth, which resembles a sheep's fleece.., was now thick and firm. |
7. attrib. and Comb., as robe-cloak, robe-coat, robe-maker, robe-spinning, robe-tearing; † robe-chamber, † robes-room, a robing-room; † robe-goer, one who has charge of the robes.
1598 Sylvester Du Bartas ii. i. iv. Handycrafts 131 The shining wooll Whence the robe-spinning precious Worms are ful. 1665 Pepys Diary 23 June, My Lord Sandwich did take me aside in the robe-chamber. 1679–88 Secr. Serv. Money Chas. & Jas. (Camden) 146 In consideracion of his services and extraordinary attendances at the robes-roome upon his said Majestie and the Privy Councill and Committees. 1701 Cal. Treasury P. (1871) 529 Robegoers and bedgoers. 1746 in R. Chambers Traditions of Edinburgh (1846) 47 No misses in skirts and jackets, robe-coats, nor stay-bodied gowns, to be allowed to dance in country⁓dances. 1831 J. MacDonald in Life (1849) III. 174 A species of religious robe-tearing. 1836–7 Dickens Sk. Boz (1850) 149/2 There were Mr. Harris the law-stationer, and Mr. Jennings the robemaker. 1902 Q. Rev. Apr. 533 His father and grandfather were both robe-makers. 1908 G. B. Shaw Lett. to Granville Barker (1956) 139, I have persuaded her to be discovered next time in a robe-cloak. 1911 C. Mackenzie Passionate Elopement xviii. 170 Swansdown misses..put into corsets almost as soon as they were out of robe-coats. 1964 New Shetlander No. 70. 27 She wuir a hap, rob cott an bratt. |
▪ II. robe, n.2
(rəʊb)
Also 'robe.
Abbrev. of wardrobe.
1935 Spectator 7 June 972/1 Mr. Toop, a wholesale furniture-maker in the Curtain Road with whom I once had dealings, introduced me to some pretty examples of what grammarians, I believe, call aphaeresis. ‘If you want a 'Board,’ he would say, ‘I'd choose wawnut every time: but when it comes to a 'Robe, there's nothing to touch m'yogany.’ 1969 Sydney Morning Herald 24 May 43/9 (Advt.), Built-in robes. 1974 T. R. Dennis in J. Burnett Useful Toil iii. 354, I did a bedroom suite for {pstlg}21; it had a six-foot robe..dressing-table and tall-boy and bed to match. 1977 Evening Gaz. (Middlesbrough) 11 Jan. 11/7 (Advt.), Two double bedrooms, one with fitted unit and 'robe. |
▪ III. robe, v.
(rəʊb)
Also 7 roab.
[f. robe n.1]
1. trans. To clothe or invest in a robe or robes; to apparel; to dress. Also refl. Also, to apparel (oneself) in a dressing-gown.
1377 Langl. P. Pl. B. xv. 333 Ȝe robeth and fedeth Hem þat han as ȝe han. 1655 tr. Sorel's Com. Hist. Francion iii. 60 A Piece of rich Satin, to new Robe him. 1711 G. Hickes Two Treat. Chr. Priesth. (1847) II. 290 He robed and unrobed himself in his throne. 1725 Pope Odyss. v. 294 Ulysses rob'd him in the cloak and vest. 1859 Tennyson Geraint & Enid 691 Rise therefore; robe yourself in this. 1886 Mabel Collins Prettiest Woman v, She robed herself again in her national costume. 1969 New Yorker 31 May 32/1 If I am resolute, I will arise and robe myself. |
fig. 1638 Sir T. Herbert Trav. (ed. 2) 14 Nature roabing the fruitfull earth with her choisest Tapistry. 1803 Foster in Life & Corr. (1846) I. 223 He robes himself in moonlight. 1850 Lynch Theoph. Trinal ix, Love robed her in a blush. 1892 Tennyson Foresters iv, A thousand winters Will strip you bare as death, a thousand summers Robe you life-green again. |
2. intr. To put on robes or vestments.
a 1626 Bacon Advt. touching Holy War (1629) 96 Only to Roab, and Feast, and performe Rites, and Obseruances. 1829 Southey All for Love iii. xxi, And there the Priests are robing now. 1869 Daily News 14 Dec., The Bishops were to meet at half-past 8 o'clock in a meeting hall, where they were to robe and form in procession. |