Milan1
(mɪlˈæn, ˈmɪlən)
Forms: 5 Melayne, -eyn, Mylleyn, 5–6 Mil(l)ayn(e, 6 Myllain, Myll-, Millan, -en, -in, -on, Myllane, Melane, Mul(l)ane, Mil(l)ion, Millian, 6–7 Millane, Millain(e, 6– Milan.
[ad. It. Milano.]
1. a. The name of the chief city of Lombardy; used attrib. to designate certain of its manufactures, chiefly textile fabrics and steel-work, as † Milan bonnet, † Milan fustian, † Milan gloves, Milan lace, † Milan sleeves; † Milan needle, a sail-needle; Milan point (see quot. 1882); Milan steel (Hist.), steel used by the armourers of Milan in the manufacture of coats-of-mail, swords, etc. (so Milan hauberk, Milan knife, Milan mail).
| [1431 Test. Ebor. II. 13 Unam loricam de Milan.] 1495 Naval Acc. Hen. VII (1896) 276, vj C. mylleyn nedylles..spent abought reparacion & amendyng of the seyd Sayles. 1503 Acc. Ld. High Treas. Scot. (1900) II. 234 Item for thre elne Melane fustiane. 1507 Ibid. (1902) IV. 15 Five Melane bonetis. 1530 in Form of Cury (1780) 167 A pair of Myllen Sleves of white sattin. 1532 Proclam. 18 Aug. in Chron. Calais (Camden) 116 To apparell there servauntes in..red Myllen bonnettes. 1535 Stewart Cron. Scot. (Rolls) I. 235 The Millane melȝeis mendit nocht ane myte, The brandis bricht sa bitterlie did byte. 1545 Rates Custome Ho. b viij, Millin gloues or canary the groce, xxvi.s. viii.d. 1588 in Anc. Invent. (Halliw. 1854) 126 A quilte..lyned with Million fustian. 1601 J. Wheeler Treat. Comm. 23 Milan Fustians. 16.. K. Arth. & K. Cornw. 168 in Percy Fol. MS. I. 68 He sayes, ‘Collen brand Ile haue in my hand, And a Millaine knife fast by my knee.’ 1622 Mabbe tr. Aleman's Guzm. d'Alf. i. 158 A Buffe Ierkin, laid on with a costly Milane-Lace. 1828 Scott F.M. Perth xi, Canst thou take up a fallen link in my Milan hauberk? 1882 Caulfeild & Saward Dict. Needlework s.v. Milan Point, The Milan Points..were fine hand made laces similar to the Spanish and Venetian Points. |
† b. Short for Milan steel. Obs.
| 1464 Mann. & Househ. Exp. (Roxb.) 194 A stondard of mayll..and a salat wyth a vesere of meleyn. 15.. Chevy Chase 65 (Ashmole MS.), With swordes that wear of fyn myllan. 16.. Eger & Grine 169 in Percy Fol. MS. I. 359 My Habergion that was of Millaine fine. |
2. (See quot. 1968.) Also attrib.
| 1895 Montgomery Ward Catal. 131/3 Misses' or children's, Union Milan and fancy braid. 1948 K. Hardy Costume Design x. 209 Milan, finer version of leghorn. 1950 ‘Mercury’ Dict. Textile Terms 345/2 Milan hat, a hat of fine straw, originally manufactured in the province of Milan, Italy. 1968 J. Ironside Fashion Alphabet 253 Milan, a fine, closely woven straw from Milan, Italy, used for expensive hats. |