Gainsborough
(ˈgeɪnzbərə)
[The name of Thomas Gainsborough (1727–88), English painter.]
1. A portrait painted by Gainsborough.
| 1798 J. Constable Let. 2 Dec. (1964) II. 16 Consequently I have not taken advantage of your friendship or Mr. Strutt's good nature respecting the Gainsborough. 1894 W. Armstrong Gainsborough 83 As refutations of Sir Joshua we could name many Gainsboroughs which beat the Blue Boy. 1903 A. B. Chamberlain Gainsborough 132 She [sc. Signora Grassi] called her house a ‘painted Paradise’ because of the Gainsboroughs hanging there. 1958 E. Waterhouse Gainsborough 13 An almost unknown painter some of whose works..are curiously similar to early Gainsboroughs. |
2. A large broad-brimmed hat of the type worn by women in Gainsborough's portraits. In full, Gainsborough hat.
| 1878 Cassell's Fam. Mag. Aug. 569/2 The..wearers of the Gainsborough, Rembrandt, and beef-eater hats. 1884 [see cart-wheel n. 5]. 1904 Westm. Gaz. 12 Aug. 5/1 Extemporised Gainsboroughs. 1928 Amer. Speech IV. 92 One remembers the Gainsborough hat. |