ˈmantua-ˌmaker Obs. exc. Hist. or arch.
One who makes mantuas; later, a dress-maker.
| 1694 Motteux Rabelais v. 237 Mantuamaker. 1712 Budgell Spect. No. 277 ¶11 The most celebrated Tyre-women and Mantua-makers in Paris. 1841 in Hodder Life Ld. Shaftesb. (1886) I. 328 An enquiry into the state and treatment of the wretched milliners and mantua-makers. 1886 E. L. Bynner A. Surriage xv. 165 Get on your hat and go with me to the mantua-maker. |
So mantua-making vbl. n. and ppl. a.
| a 1704 T. Brown Walk round London (1709) 41 That virtuous Profession Mantua-making. 1760–72 H. Brooke Fool of Qual. (1809) III. 76, I must soon quit my mantuamaking business. 1824 Miss Mitford Village Ser. i. 287 The young mantua-making school-mistresses. |