I can't help wondering whether these descriptions, several of which
sound very elaborate, are more like what we'd now call a dressing gown
or what ladies might now refer to as a morning robe (mutatis mutandis).
A lamb fur or black velvet gown sounds a bit awkward to sleep in, whilst
a night shirt is quite comfortable.
Richard Ramsey
.william godshalk wrote:
> */Here are some examples from the OED. Apparently some folks took off
> their nightgowns to go to bed.
>
> a/1475* J. S
> <http://dictionary.oed.com/help/bib/oed2-s2.html#j-shirley> HIRLEY
> <http://dictionary.oed.com/help/bib/oed2-s2.html#j-shirley> /Death
> James/ in /Miscellanea Scotica/ (1818) II. 15 The Kyng..stondyng in
> his nyght gowne, all unclothid save his shirt, his cape, his
> combe..cast offe his nyght gowne, for to have gone to bedd. */a/1475*
> /Sloane Courtesy Bk./ 483 in F. J. Furnivall /Early Eng. Meals &
> Manners/ (1931) 193 {Th}o vsshere schalle bydde {th}o wardropere Make
> redy for alle ny{ygh} t be-fore {th}e fere; {Th}en bryngis he forthe
> ny{ygh} t goun also..{Th} o lorde schalle skyft his gown at ny{ygh} t.
> *1502* in J. B. Paul /Accts. Treasurer Scotl./ (1900) II. 36 For ij
> steik chamlot to be ane nycht goun to the King. *1541* /Rutland MSS/
> (Hist. MSS. Comm.) IV. 321 Rydyng to Hwlle, to bere my Lorde a nyght
> gowne, iiij/s/. *1546* in J. W. Clay /Testamenta Eboracensia/ (1902)
> VI. 240 A gowne furrid withe lambe whiche is my nyghte gowne. *1582*
> N. L <http://dictionary.oed.com/help/bib/oed2-l2.html#n-lichefield>
> ICHEFIELD
> <http://dictionary.oed.com/help/bib/oed2-l2.html#n-lichefield> tr. L.
> de Castaneda /Hist. Discov. E. India/ 155 His night gowne was made of
> blacke Veluet, after the French use laced about, with lase of golde.
> *1607* T. D <http://dictionary.oed.com/help/bib/oed2-d.html#t-dekker>
> EKKER <http://dictionary.oed.com/help/bib/oed2-d.html#t-dekker> & J. W
> <http://dictionary.oed.com/help/bib/oed2-w.html#j-webster> EBSTER
> <http://dictionary.oed.com/help/bib/oed2-w.html#j-webster> /Famous
> Hist. T. Wyat/ sig. G2, Pleaseth the Lady Iane, ile helpe her off With
> her night-Gowne.
>
> Bill***************************************
> W. L. Godshalk *
> Department of English *
> University of Cincinnati Stellar disorder *
> Cincinnati OH 45221-0069 *
> 513-281-5927
> ***************************************
|