ˈthree-piece, a. and n.
A. adj.
1. Of a suite of furniture: comprising three separate items; freq. of a lounge suite: (usu.) comprising two armchairs and a sofa.
| 1908 Sears, Roebuck Catal. 455 Five-piece parlor suite... Three-piece parlor suite. 1952 New Statesman 5 July 10/1 Thankfully home, not to sink onto the centre couch of a three-piece suite. 1976 G. Moffat Short Time to Live ix. 82 The bathroom held..the usual three-piece suite. 1978 E. Malpass Wind brings up Rain xi. 109 A three-piece suite in blue moquette for the front room. |
2. Of a suit of clothes: comprising three separate garments; freq. of a man's suit: comprising trousers, jacket, and waistcoat.
| 1909 in C. W. Cunnington Eng. Women's Clothing in Present Cent. (1952) iii. 91 New Three Piece Suit. 1923 Queen 26 July p. viii, The three-piece coat-frock. 1965 F. Sargeson Memoirs of Peon vi. 134 Three-piece suits were the rule. 1980 TWA Ambassador Oct. 84/2 We try to be a little lively, just to get out of that staid, gray, three-piece-suit mold. |
3. Mus. Of a band: comprising three instruments or players.
| 1939 C. R. Cooper Designs in Scarlet ii. 13 A three⁓piece string band or a full orchestra. 1959 Wallis & Blair Thunder Above xii. 125 The band struck up again. The three-piece combination..played German dance music. 1978 M. Russell Daylight Robbery i. 20 The assortment of dance-floor routines that were accompanying the pulsation of a three-piece Latin-American group. |
B. n.
1. A three-piece suit.
| 1931 W. Holtby Poor Caroline 18 Oh, Mums, I must show you my new blue three-piece. 1982 Barr & York Official Sloane Ranger Handbk. 42/1 There are a few basic lines that continue practically for ever, like..the basic City three-piece. |
2. A three-piece suite.
| 1966 G. Burnett Dead Account iv. 27 The room looked more expensive..a grey/red three-piece that wouldn't show much change out of two hundred guineas. 1977 Times 24 Dec. 16/6 What suburban child is going to believe that..Santa would be allowed..to put his great sooty footmarks all over the Dralon three piece and the wall to wall? |
Hence three-piecer U.S., a three-piece suit.
| 1964 N.Y. Post 9 Nov. 13 Orlon® cardigan three-piecer a-glitter with trim. 1976 Billings (Montana) Gaz. 20 June 5-e (Advt.), Our all polyester knit shirt is great for leisure suits, a three piecer, even tucked into a pair of casual pants. |