▪ I. milliner, n.
(ˈmɪlɪnə(r))
Forms: myllaner, -ener, -oner, -yner, mileyner, millioner, millainer, (millender), 6–7 milner, 6–8 millener, 7 millaner, millenier, 7–8 milaner, 6– milliner.
[f. Milan1 + -er1.]
1. (With capital initial.) A native or inhabitant of Milan.
| 1529 Rastell Pastyme, Hist. Fr. (1811) 83 He was encountered by the Mylleners and the Venicyans. 1604 Dekker 1st Pt. Honest Wh. Plays 1873 II. 9 You know we Millaners love to strut vpon Spanish leather. Ibid. 42 Stranger? no sir, Ime a naturall Milaner borne. 1828 Scott F.M. Perth xi, The Milaner shall not know my work [on a Milan hauberk] from his own. |
2. † a. A vendor of ‘fancy’ wares and articles of apparel, esp. of such as were originally of Milan manufacture, e.g. ‘Milan bonnets’, ribbons, gloves, cutlery (obs.). b. In modern use, a person (usually a woman) who makes up articles of female apparel, esp. bonnets and other headgear.
| 1530 in Privy Purse Exp. Hen. VIII (1827) 33 Paied to the Mylloner for certeyne cappes trymmed..withe botons of golde. 1531 Ibid. 173 Paied to xp̃ofer mylloner for ij myllain bonettes. Ibid. 174 Paied to the mylloner for a knif for the king. c 1550 Disc. Common Weal Eng. (1893) 64 No not so much as a spurre, but it must be fett at the milliners hand. Ibid. 91 Mercers, grocers, vinteners, haberdashers, mileyners, and such as doe sell wares growinge beyond the seas. 1573 in Cunningham Revels at Crt. (1842) 24 To the Millioner for one yard qtr of counterfete cloth of gold. 1592 Greene Quip Upstart Courtier G 4 b, The other a Frenchman and a Myllaner in saint Martins, and sels shirts, bandes, bracelets, Iewels, and such pretty toies for Gentle women. 1611 Shakes. Wint. T. iv. iv. 192 No Milliner can so fit his customers with Gloues. 1617 Minsheu Ductor 5620 An Haberdasher of small wares... In London also called a Millenier, à Lat. mille, i. a thousand, as one hauing a thousand small wares to sell. 1693 Luttrell Brief Rel. (1857) III. 7 Two [highwaymen] are said to be tradesmen in the Strand, one a goldsmith, th'other a milliner. 1706 Phillips (ed. Kersey), Millener, one that sells Ribbons, Gloves, &c. 1713 Gay Guardian No. 149 ¶22 The milliner must be thoroughly versed in physiognomy; in the choice of ribbons she must have a particular regard to the complexion. 1742 Richardson Pamela IV. 280 Tailors, Wigpuffers, and Milaners. 1777 Sheridan Sch. Scand. iv. iii, 'Tis a little French milliner, a silly rogue that plagues me. 1797 Directory Sheffield 56 Calton, Godfrey, haberdasher, and milliner. 1799 H. More Fem. Educ. (ed. 4) I. 191 Among milleners, mantua-makers, and other trades where numbers work together. 1827 Wordsw. in Lit. Crit. (ed. N. C. Smith) 258 He [T. Moore] is too lavish of brilliant ornament. His poems smell of the perfumer's and milliner's shops. 1884 West. Daily Press 29 May 3/7 A black butterfly is unknown to entomologists, but at present is a favourite insect with milliners. |
Hence † ˈmillineress, a female milliner. milliˈnerial a., pertaining to milliners or millinery. ˈmillinering vbl. n., milliner's work; ppl. a., that works as a milliner (in quot. fig.).
| 1802 in Spirit Publ. Jrnls. (1803) VI. 93 The advertisements of the lady millineresses. 1831 E. J. Trelawny Adv. Younger Son cxxix, They have no Miss Edgeworth, nor any of those millinering cutters-out of human nature into certain patterns of given rules in education. 1857 Geo. Eliot Scenes Clerical Life (1858) II. 99 It was hard for Mrs. Raynor to have to work at millinering—a woman well brought up. 1886 Rosa Mulholland Marcella Grace i, To go running about after millinering and dressmaking. 1888 Lond. Society May 557 The dramatic interest is fairly divided with the millinerial. |
▪ II. milliner, v.
[f. milliner 2.]
To make up articles of women's clothing, esp. hats. Also fig.
| 1885 G. B. Shaw Cashel Byron's Profession (1886) iii. 34 We will go to Paris, and be millinered there. 1895 ― Our Theatres in Nineties (1932) I. 205 The displays of fashionable life..are now millinered and tailored..by the artists and tradesmen who equip the real fashionable world. 1907 in C. W. Cunnington Eng. Women's Clothing (1952) ii. 79 A modified cloche ‘millinered’ in a light rough-surfaced cloth. |