Liv"er*y (?), n.; pl. Liveries (#). [OE. livere, F. livr'ee, 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.
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.
© Webster 1913.
Liv"er*y, v. t.
To clothe in, or as in, livery.
Shak.
© Webster 1913.