livery
pronunciation
How to pronounce livery in British English:
UK [ˈlɪvəri]
How to pronounce livery in American English:
US [ˈlɪvəri, ˈlɪvri]
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- Noun:
- uniform worn by some menservants and chauffeurs
- the voluntary transfer of something (title or possession) from one party to another
- the care (feeding and stabling) of horses for pay
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- Adjective:
- suffering from or suggesting a liver disorder or gastric distress
Word Origin
- livery (n.)
- c. 1300, "household allowance of any kind (food, provisions, clothing) to retainers or servants," from Anglo-French livere (late 13c.), Old French livrée, "allowance, ration, pay," originally "(clothes) delivered by a master to his retinue," from fem. past participle of livrer "to dispense, deliver, hand over," from Latin liberare (see liberate). The sense later was reduced to "servants' rations" and "provender for horses" (mid-15c.). The former led to the meaning "distinctive clothing given to servants" (early 14c.); the latter now is obsolete except in livery stable (1705). Related: Liveried.
Example
- 1. The door was opened by a servant in livery .
- 2. A nurse 's livery is often white .
- 3. They wore his badge and livery .
- 4. We saw several of the van drivers in their blue and yellow livery .
- 5. It was the worst " service " I 've ever had : my pulse now quickens with rage every time I see the hateful orange and white livery .