midinette

[mid-n-et, mee-dee-net]

noun

plural

midinettes 

1. a young Parisian saleswoman or seamstress.

midinette

/ ˌmɪdɪˈnɛt, midinɛt /

noun

1. a Parisian seamstress or salesgirl in a clothes shop

Word History and Origins

Origin of midinette¹

1905–10; < French, blend of midi noon and dînette light meal ( dinner, -ette ); hence, one who has time for only a light meal at noon, with play on -ette as a feminine personal suffix, as in grisette grisette

Word History and Origins

Origin of midinette¹

C20: from French, from midi noon + dinette light meal, since the girls had time for no more than a snack at midday

Example Sentences

As a whole the midinette class is badly fed and therefore delicate and too often a prey to consumption.

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The midinettes, the “cash” girls of the great department stores and millinery shops, had no money to contribute, so some one thought of giving them a chance to help the soldiers with their needles.

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She too was of her race, alert, vivacious, and as neat as a trivet, as became a former midinette of the rue de la Paix and a daughter of Batignolles.

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The solo is Massenet, simon-pure Massenet, the idol of the Paris midinette.

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The midinettes were allowed to leave their work.

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