bandbox
(ˈbændbɒks)
Also 7–8 ban-box.
[f. band n.2 + box.]
a. A slight box of card-board or very thin chip covered with paper, for collars, caps, hats, and millinery; originally made for the ‘bands’ or ruffs of the 17th c. Also fig., a fragile or flimsy structure or one in which the accommodation is restricted.
| 1631 T. Powell Tom All Trades 173 Carrying the Bandbox under their apron. 1633 Rowley Match at Midn. iv. in Dodsl. (1780) VII. 413 Enter Maid with a band-box. Constable. How, now! where ha' you been?.. Maid. For my mistress's ruff, at her sempstress'. 1712 Addison Spect. No. 311 ¶1, I..do not suffer a Ban-box to be carried into her Room before it has been searched. 1720 Gay Poems (1745) I. 189 With empty ban-box she delights to range. 1758 J. S. Le Dran's Observ. Surg. (1771) 340 Such Wood as they make Bandboxes..with. 1859 Helps Friends in C. Ser. ii. II. viii. 148 A thing..to be chiefly kept in a bandbox. 1875 H. Lee Octopus viii. 81 The vessel was lightly built—a mere bandbox of a craft. |
b. to look as if one came out of a bandbox (and similar phrases): to look extremely smart and neat. orig. U.S.
| 1825 S. Woodworth Forest Rose i. i, He is a genteel, delightful looking fellow, neat as a starched tucker fresh from a banbox [sic]. 1833 Knickerbocker I. 198 The old gentleman..popped into the room, looking as if he had stepped out of a bandbox. 1869 ‘Mark Twain’ Innoc. Abroad xxxviii. 410 They are all.. exceedingly neat and cleanly..as if they were just out of a band-box. 1888 ‘R. Boldrewood’ Robb. under Arms III. vii. 94 Starlight..looked as if he'd just come out of a band-box. 1941 M. Marlett Death has Thousand Doors (1950) iv. 32 She invariably looked as though she had stepped out of the proverbial bandbox. |
c. attrib. and Comb. bandbox thing: (cf. sense a, quot. 1859.). Also in senses: (a) resembling a bandbox; flimsy, fragile; (b) conspicuously neat and clean; dressed-up.
| 1727 Swift Let. 9 July (1912) III. 405 Letters..which..I can sell at good advantage to the band-box and trunk-maker. 1774 Westm. Mag. II. 454 The good man..turned the eye of contempt upon the Band-box Thing, and..said, ‘I believe 'tis a Doll.’ 1838 S. Lit. Messenger IV. 638/2 To render fur caps and bandbox hats for winter..articles of vital necessity. 1844 Thackeray May Gambols in Fraser's Mag. June 707/2 Spick and span bandbox churches of the pointed Norman style. a 1852 Moore Country Dance & Quad. xiii. 51 A band-box thing, all art and lace, Down from her nose-tip to her shoe-tie. 1894 Sketch 13 June 355/1 The best stage-management in the world could not have made the thing lifelike..on that bandbox stage. 1916 J. Buchan Greenmantle xi. 143 Better a bloody end in a street scrap than the tender mercies of that bandbox bravo. 1939 Auden & Isherwood Journey to War v. 130 Little band-box officers, slim and smart. 1967 V. H. Gielgud Conduct of Member xx. 160 She was wearing a dressing-gown..but preserved her usual band-box quality of neat fastidiousness. |