bertha1, berthe
(ˈbɜːθə, bɜːθ)
[a. F. berthe, englished as bertha, from the proper name, F. Berthe, Eng. Bertha.]
A deep falling collar, usually of lace, attached to the top of a low-necked dress, and running all round the shoulders.
| 1842 C. Ridley Let. in Ridley Cecilia (1958) ix. 109, I shall be very glad..of the bugle flowers and bertha and rosettes. 1842 Illustr. Lond. News 24 Dec. 525/1 The berthe had a double row of point d'Argentan. a 1856 Alb. Smith Sketches of Day Ser. i. iii. i, She dresses by the fashion books, believing berthe and birth to be words of equal worth in the world. 1869 Athenæum 18 Dec. 826 A Bertha of ancient point lace. 1881 M. E. Braddon Asph. xix. 208 Neat laced berthas fitting close to modestly-covered shoulders. |