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livery

noun

  1. distinctive uniform worn by a class of workers
L184818 on Wikidata ↗

adjective

No English definition recorded for this entry.

L338171 on Wikidata ↗

Wiktionary

Pronunciation: /ˈlɪv(ə)ɹi/

adj

Etymology: From Middle English *livery, from Old English lifriġ (“relating to the liver, livery”), equivalent to liver + -y.

  1. Like liver.

    We are happy for the chopped mushrooms within the warm goose liver paté, for the coarse, highly seasoned wedge has a robust livery flavour the 'shrooms manage to ease.

    A second test was similar, but we brought the internal temperature up to 130 degrees; the texture was chewy, the meat tasted livery, and had not melted.

  2. Queasy, liverish.

    He woke feeling livery, and aware that he had overslept the morning.

    The biliousness and livery feeling will disappear and the feeling of joy and happiness will be the reward.

noun

Etymology: From Middle English livery, liveree, from Anglo-Norman liveree, from Old French livree. Compare modern French livrée.

  1. Any distinctive identifying uniform worn by a group, such as the uniform worn by chauffeurs and male servants.

    And while the moralist, who is holding forth on the cover ( an accurate portrait of your humble servant), professes to wear neither gown nor bands, but only the very same long-eared livery in which his congregation is arrayed: yet, look you, one is bound to speak the truth as far as one knows it, whether one mounts a cap and bells or a shovel hat; and a deal of disagreeable matter must come out in the course of such an undertaking.

    Going into the hall he saw a handsome groom, in a braided livery and a bear fur cape, holding a white fur cloak.

  2. The whole body of liverymen, members of livery companies.
  3. The paint scheme of a vehicle or fleet of vehicles.

    The airline's new livery received a mixed reaction from the press.

    The glass fibre body has the advantage of lightness and obviates the need for painting as the material is self-coloured in the standard B.R. maroon livery.

  4. A taxicab or limousine.
  5. The delivery of property from one owner to the next.
  6. The writ by which property is obtained.
  7. The rental of horses or carriages; the rental of canoes; the care and/or boarding of horses for money.

    […] Pegasus does not stand at livery even at the largest establishment in Moorfields.

  8. A stable that keeps horses or carriages for rental.
  9. An allowance of food; a ration, as given out to a family, to servants, to horses, etc.

    The emperor's officers every night went through the town from house to house whereat any English gentleman did repast or lodge, and served their liveries for all night: first, the officers brought into the house a cast of fine manchet [white bread], and of silver two great post, and white wine, and sugar.

  10. Release from wardship; deliverance.

    It concerned them first to sue out their livery from the unjust wardship of his encroaching prerogative.

  11. A low grade of wool.
  12. Outward markings, fittings or appearance

    When forty winters shall beseige thy brow, dig deep trenches in thy beauty's field, Thy youth's proud livery, so gazed on now, Will be a tatter'd weed, of small worth held:

verb

Etymology: From Middle English livery, liveree, from Anglo-Norman liveree, from Old French livree. Compare modern French livrée.

  1. To clothe.

    He liveried his servants in the most modest of clothing.