† ˈbiliment Obs.
Forms: 6 beliment, bellementte, billament, billemente, billyment, bylli(a)ment, 6–7 billiment(e, 7–8 billement, 8 biliment.
[aphetic form of abiliment, habiliment (also abillement, habillament, abyllyment, etc., etc.); used in specific senses of that word.]
1. gen. An ornamental article of (female) attire, an ornament worn by women; = habiliment 5.
| [c 1530 Ld. Berners Arth. Lyt. Bryt. (1814) 8 Pyers..bought for them abylementes and jewelles.] 1589 Lanc. Wills (1861) 155, I give unto my said wiefe all her chaynes of goolde..billimentes and all apparell. 1611 Cotgr., Dorlot, a iewell, or prettie trinket, as..aglet, button, billement, etc. wherewith a woman sets out her apparell, or decks herselfe. 1720 Stow's Surv. (ed. Strype 1754) II. v. ix. 270/1 Many Biliments, Chains, Tablets, Buttons, and such like which were commonly worn. 1721–90 Bailey, Billements [i.e. the Habilliments], Ornaments and Cloaths of a Woman. |
2. spec. in 16th c.: ‘The attire or ornaments of a woman's head or neck: or a bonnet: a French hood: a paste or such like.’ Baret Alvearie 1580. ‘The jewelled fronts of the ladies' head-dresses, as we see them in the portraits of Queen Anne Boleyne, etc.’ J. G. Nicholls.
| [1555 Fardle Facions ii. vii. 161 The abillementes of their heades are much like the frontlettes that their Magi doe weare.] a 1553 Udall Royster D. ii. iii. (Arb.) 35 We shall go in our frenche hoodes..In our tricke ferdegews and billiments of golde. a 1556 Chron. Gr. Friars (1852) 43 Thene [1539] beganne alle the gentylwomen of Yngland to were Frenche whooddes with bellementtes of golde. 1583 Golding Calvin on Deut. lxxvii. 472 Women weare billiments of gold, and other costly attyres vpon their heades. 1611 Cotgr., Bavolet, a Billiment, or head-attire, worne by the women of Picardie. |
3. biliment lace: an ornamental lace used in the 16th c. for trimming.
| 1578 Inv. Jas. Backhouse in Draper's Dict. 187 Lace 5d to 9d per dozen. vij doz. and a d. of bylliament, 8s...x owncis of sylke bylliment, 12s. 1588 Lanc. Wills (1861) 139 One velvett jerkin laid one w{supt}{suph} billim{supt} lace. 1600 Queen's Wardrobe in Nichols Progr. Q. Eliz. III. 501 One frocke of clothe of golde..with a billament lace of Venice Golde. |