hammercloth

American  

[ham-er-klawth, -kloth] / ˈhæm ərˌklɔθ, -ˌklɒθ /

noun

hammercloths plural

1. a cloth covering for the driver's seat on a horse-drawn carriage.

---

Etymology

Origin of hammercloth

1425–75; late Middle English hamerclothe, dissimilated variant of *hamelcloth home-woven cloth, equivalent to hamel domestic (akin to Old Norse heimili homestead) + cloth ( e ) cloth

Example Sentences

Then, from a lateral path, a closed carriage and pair drove rapidly up to the Hall, and a footman bounced off the hammercloth.

From The Card, a Story of Adventure in the Five Towns by Bennett, Arnold

They have gone the way of their beautiful chariots with the elaborate armorial bearings and the tasselled hammercloth, the bewigged, cocked-hatted coachman, and the two gorgeous flunkies hanging on behind.

From Social Pictorial Satire by Du Maurier, George

First came the Topham Sawyers, in their light-blue carriage with the white hammercloth and blue and white ribbons—their footmen drove the house down with the knocking.

From A Little Dinner at Timmin's by Thackeray, William Makepeace

Why, 'twas atop of that very blue hammercloth that I first set eyes on my Dove!

From Love and Life An Old Story in Eighteenth Century Costume by Yonge, Charlotte Mary

The noblest natures may be worked up to suspicion by designing villany; and then a handkerchief, or a hammercloth, 'trifles as light as air'—" "Oh, my dear, you are too good.

From Tales and Novels — Volume 03 by Edgeworth, Maria