First recorded in 1850–55; after Henrietta Maria (1609–69), queen consort of Charles I of England
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Tomorrow morning," she said sternly, "You take off that white cap and that fol-de-rol apron and that black henrietta cloth, and put on a calico wrapper.
From When a Man Marries by Rinehart, Mary Roberts
Materials must be as handsome as can be afforded; soft wool materials may be chosen, cashmere, henrietta, voile, make up suitably.
From Mother's Remedies Over One Thousand Tried and Tested Remedies from Mothers of the United States and Canada by Ritter, Thomas Jefferson
She set them at defiance in a peculiarly feminine fashion by dressing that evening in the unbecoming henrietta and doing her hair in the plainest, most severe fashion.
From Other People's Business The Romantic Career of the Practical Miss Dale by Smith, Harriet L.
But as I was leaving my house Calliope Marsh arrived, buttoned tightly in her best gray henrietta, her cheeks hot with some intense excitement.
From Friendship Village by Gale, Zona
Besides, you have that new blue voile; you're a dream in it; and Sarah has her wine-colored henrietta.
From Blue Bonnet in Boston or, Boarding-School Days at Miss North's by Goss, John
“What the 60-day window is actually for is ironing out the thorniest details,” Henrietta Treyz, director of economic policy at Veda Partners, wrote in a note.
From MarketWatch ● Jun. 16, 2026
Until then, Nigerian Henrietta Henry, who describes her first ever visit to LAX as "hell," has one piece of advice for fans this summer: "Do your homework."
From Barron's ● May 27, 2026
Doubts will rise among the U.S.’s allies in Asia, despite rhetorical affirmations of strong ties, said Henrietta Levin, a former National Security Council director for China during the Biden administration.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 20, 2026
I think about Henrietta Lacks, a Black woman who died at the age of 31 from cervical cancer.
From Slate ● Jan. 11, 2026
All the time me and Henrietta over in the comer playing pitty pat.
From "The Color Purple" by Alice Walker
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
