livery

¹

[liv-uh-ree, liv-ree]

noun

plural

liveries 

1. the care, feeding, stabling, etc., of horses for pay.

2. Also called livery stable. a stable where horses are cared for or rented out for pay.

3. a company that rents out automobiles, boats, etc.

4. a distinctive design or color scheme that marks something, especially a bus, train, airplane, etc., as belonging to a particular company or organization.

   This airline's red-and-blue livery makes its planes easy to spot.

5. a distinctive uniform, badge, or device formerly provided for servants.

6. 1. distinctive attire worn by an official, a member of a company or guild, etc.

   2. Also called livery company. British.,  a guild or company of the City of London entitled to wear such livery.

7. characteristic dress or outward appearance.

   the green livery of summer.

8. Law.,  an ancient method of conveying a freehold by formal delivery of possession.

livery

²

[liv-uh-ree]

adjective

1. liverish.

livery

¹

/ ˈlɪvərɪ /

noun

1. the identifying uniform, badge, etc, of a member of a guild or one of the servants of a feudal lord

2. a uniform worn by some menservants and chauffeurs

3. an individual or group that wears such a uniform

4. distinctive dress or outward appearance

5. 1. the stabling, keeping, or hiring out of horses for money

   2. ( as modifier )

      a livery horse

6. being kept in a livery stable

7. legal history an ancient method of conveying freehold land

livery

²

/ ˈlɪvərɪ /

adjective

1. of or resembling liver

2. another word for liverish

Word History and Origins

Origin of livery¹

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English livere, from Anglo-French, equivalent to Old French livree “allowance (of food, clothing, etc.),” noun use of feminine past participle of livrer “to give over,” from Latin līberāre; liberate

Origin of livery²

First recorded in 1770–80; liver ¹ + -y ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of livery¹

C14: via Anglo-French from Old French livrée allocation, from livrer to hand over, from Latin līberāre to set free

Example Sentences

The single, folded sheet lists just 90 names, mostly businesses near historic downtown such as liveries, saloons, physicians, mills, druggists and the local undertaker.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Marine One and Marine Two are specially adapted aircraft known as "white tops" because of their livery.

Read more on BBC

Others, like the jail, the livery and a barber shop are just facades — great for selfies but little else.

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It will be the first service with the new GBR livery.

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He even picked out his own colour palette, scrapping Kennedy's design for a red-white-and-blue livery.

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Related Words

• attire 
• bundle up 
• cloak 
• disguise 
• do up 
• drape 
• dress 
• dress up 
• equip 
• fit 
• swaddle 
• swathe