finery

¹

[fahy-nuh-ree]

noun

1. fine or showy dress, ornaments, etc.

finery

²

[fahy-nuh-ree]

noun

Metalworking.

plural

fineries 

1. a hearth for converting cast iron into wrought iron; refinery.

finery

¹

/ ˈfaɪnərɪ /

noun

1. elaborate or showy decoration, esp clothing and jewellery

finery

²

/ ˈfaɪnərɪ /

noun

1. a hearth for converting cast iron into wrought iron

Word History and Origins

Origin of finery¹

First recorded in 1670–80; fine ¹ + -ery

Origin of finery²

1600–10; < Middle French finerie, equivalent to fin ( er ) to refine ( fine ¹ ) + erie -ery

Word History and Origins

Origin of finery¹

C17: from Old French finerie , from finer to refine; see _fine ¹

Example Sentences

Every night, the gentlemen suit up and the ladies don their finery, although nothing is as fancy as when the family hosts balls or extremely fancy dinners for special guests.

Read more on Salon

Once dressed in their wedding finery in the palace of the local ruler, the young women parade through the streets of Shao before the mass wedding is blessed by the priest of Awon.

Read more on Barron's

He looks out the window and says “There’s a parade, and a great princess is walking by in all her finery . . .”

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

It is a quintessentially British tennis experience: punters dressed in their finery, Pimm's in full flow and a beautiful setting, with as much care taken of the flowers and greenery as the pristine courts.

Read more on BBC

Resplendent in finery that makes her resemble a gilded black widow spider, the Director coaches kids to dance and brawl until they bleed.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• apparel 
• regalia