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Definitions for: Livery
[n] the care (feeding and stabling) of horses for pay
[n] the voluntary transfer of something (title or possession) from one party to another
[n] uniform worn by some menservants and chauffeurs
[adj] suffering from or suggesting a liver disorder or gastric distress
Webster (1913) Definition: Liv"er*y, n.; pl. Liveries. [OE. livere, F.
livr['e]e, formerly, a gift of clothes made by the master to
his servants, prop., a thing delivered, fr. livrer to
deliver, L. liberare to set free, in LL., to deliver up. See
Liberate.]
1. (Eng. Law)
(a) The act of delivering possession of lands or
tenements.
(b) The writ by which possession is obtained.
Note: It is usual to say, livery of seizin, which is a feudal
investiture, made by the delivery of a turf, of a rod,
or twig, from the feoffor to the feoffee. In the United
States, and now in Great Britain, no such ceremony is
necessary, the delivery of a deed being sufficient.
2. Release from wardship; deliverance.
It concerned them first to sue out their livery from
the unjust wardship of his encroaching prerogative.
--Milton.
3. That which is delivered out statedly or formally, as
clothing, food, etc.; especially:
(a) The uniform clothing issued by feudal superiors to
their retainers and serving as a badge when in
military service.
(b) The peculiar dress by which the servants of a nobleman
or gentleman are distinguished; as, a claret-colored
livery.
(c) Hence, also, the peculiar dress or garb appropriated
by any association or body of persons to their own
use; as, the livery of the London tradesmen, of a
priest, of a charity school, etc.; also, the whole
body or company of persons wearing such a garb, and
entitled to the privileges of the association; as, the
whole livery of London.
A Haberdasher and a Carpenter, A Webbe, a Dyer,
and a Tapicer, And they were clothed all in one
livery Of a solempne and a gret fraternite.
--Chaucer.
From the periodical deliveries of these
characteristic articles of servile costume (blue
coats) came our word livery. --De Quincey.
(d) Hence, any characteristic dress or outward appearance.
`` April's livery.'' --Sir P. Sidney.
Now came still evening on, and twilight gray Had
in her sober livery all things clad. --Milton.
(e) An allowance of food statedly given out; a ration, as
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. --Cavendish.
(f) The feeding, stabling, and care of horses for
compensation; boarding; as, to keep one's horses at
livery.
What livery is, we by common use in England know
well enough, namely, that is, allowance of horse
meat, as to keep horses at livery, the which
word, I guess, is derived of livering or
delivering forth their nightly food. --Spenser.
It need hardly be observed that the explanation
of livery which Spenser offers is perfectly
correct, but . . . it is no longer applied to
the ration or stated portion of food delivered
at stated periods. --Trench.
(g) The keeping of horses in readiness to be hired
temporarily for riding or driving; the state of being
so kept.
Pegasus does not stand at livery even at the
largest establishment in Moorfields. --Lowell.
4. A low grade of wool.
Livery gown, the gown worn by a liveryman in London.
Liv"er*y, v. t.
To clothe in, or as in, livery. --Shak.
Synonyms: bilious, delivery, ill, legal transfer, liverish, sick
See Also: aid, attention, bailment, care, conveyance, conveyance of title, conveyancing, conveying, surrender, tending, uniform
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