midinette

American  

[mid-n-et, mee-dee-net] / ˌmɪd nˈɛt, mi diˈnɛt /

noun

plural

midinettes

1. a young Parisian saleswoman or seamstress.

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midinette British  

/ ˌmɪdɪˈnɛt, midinɛt /

noun

1. a Parisian seamstress or salesgirl in a clothes shop

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Etymology

Origin of midinette

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

Example Sentences

The midinette insisted on her silk stockings and her cheap furs in which rabbit predominated.

From Time Magazine Archive

Women for Bonnard were his wife, Marthe de Meligny, a cute midinette he met when he was 28.

From Time Magazine Archive

In Ischl the Sissy of the play disguised herself as a midinette, became betrothed to the Emperor in the room where 61 years later he signed the declaration of war against Serbia.

From Time Magazine Archive

Then we chatted discreetly with a Paris midinette at the gate of the farm.

From Adventures of a Despatch Rider by Watson, William Henry Lowe

The little midinette thrown out of employment, the shopkeeper faced with ruin, the artist reduced to actual want—they also are in the fighting line, and they are proud of it.

From The New York Times Current History of the European War, Vol 1, Issue 4, January 23, 1915 by Various