| 释义 |
merino|məˈriːnəʊ|
[a. Sp. merino adj., the distinctive epithet of ‘a breed of sheep which is pastured in winter in Estremadura and in summer in la montaña’ (Sp. Acad.); also applied to the wool of these sheep. Hence F. mérinos adj. and n.
Sp. merino adj. represents L. mājōrīnus (f. mājor greater), prob. in its early sense ‘of a larger kind’ (Pliny). Etymologists, however, have supposed it to be derived from merino n., overseer of cattle pastures (also the title of certain judicial officers), which represents certain substantival uses of mājōrīnus in med. Latin.]
1. a. In full merino sheep: A variety of sheep prized for the fineness of its wool, introduced from Spain to England at the close of the 18th c. and extensively used for the improvement by crossing of the fleece-bearing sheep of Britain and the Colonies. Also attrib. as merino breed, merino fleece, merino flock, merino stock, merino wool.
1781Dillon Trav. Spain 48 The Merino sheep, of which it is computed there are between four and five million in the kingdom. Ibid. 53 These Merino flocks. 1810Wellington in Gurw. Desp. (1838) VI. 558 Neither Americans nor English will ever derive any general advantage from the Merinos. 1812E. Sheppard in Nicholson's Jrnl. (1813) XXXIV. 122 Having had the experience of more than ten years, both in the growth and manufacture of British Merino wools. 1813Jefferson Writ. (1898) IX. 442 The Merino sheep are spreading over the continent and thrive well. 1837Youatt Sheep v. 146 The Merino flocks and the Merino wool have improved under the more careful management of other countries. Ibid. 154 The Merino fleece is in Spain sorted into four parcels. 1879Cassell's Techn. Educ. IV. 260/1 Sheep sprung from the Merino stock.
b. fig. pure merino Austral. slang, an early immigrant to Australia with no convict origins; a member of a leading family in Australian society; a person of fine breeding or good character. Hence as attrib. phr., first-class; well-bred; excellent.
1827P. Cunningham Two Yrs. New South Wales II. xxiv. 116 The legitimates..such as have legal reasons for visiting the colony; and the illegitimates, or such as are free from that stigma. The pure Merinos are a variety of the latter species, who pride themselves on being of the purest blood in the colony. 1827Monitor 13 Jan. 2 It operates greatly to the credit of the Pure Merino Bank. 1936M. Franklin All that Swagger vii. 69 It was too early to regard Delacy as a deserter,..he was a pure merino who would not abscond from a fine young wife. 1941Baker Dict. Austral. Slang 46 Merino, pure, originally, a free settler. Later, members of the alleged ‘leading families’. Also (adj.) first-class, superlative in quality. 1954T. Ronan Vision Splendid 113 ‘Old Mentmore,’ he explained, ‘is one of your pure merino sportsmen: member of all the big racing clubs down south.’ 1966G. W. Turner Eng. Lang. Austral. & N.Z. i. 9 These sterling characters were also known as pure merinos when the sheep industry began to be based on imported merino sheep.
2. a. A soft woollen material resembling, but finer than, French cashmere, originally manufactured of merino wool, and later of a fine wool mixed with cotton. Also attrib.
1818M. Edgeworth Let. 29 Oct. (1971) 130 Tell me which you prefer the Merino or the Queens cloth... The Merino looks much the best in the piece. 1820G. Keats Let. in Keats Lett. (1958) II. 357 We will send Miss Brawn an india Crape dress or merino shawl or something scarce with you, but cheap with us. 1823Repos. Arts, etc. Ser. iii. I. 120 Gowns for home-dress..are of velvet, Merino, and gros de Naples. 1831Lincoln Herald 9 Sept. 3/6 Trowsers, a pale lavender Merino. 1842J. Bischoff Woollen Manuf. II. 415 They..imitated the article of cotton jeans, in worsted,..to which they gave the name of plainbacks out of which has sprung that..valuable branch of merinos. 1869E. A. Parkes Pract. Hygiene (ed. 3) 405 In merino and other fabrics it [cotton] is used with wool. 1898G. B. Shaw Plays II. Candida 82 A black merino skirt.
b. A dress made of this. Also, a merino shawl.
1845M. M. Noah Gleanings 16 Thin kid shoes and gloves [are worn by the lady of fashion]; a fine merino over her arm. 1848Mrs. Gaskell Mary Barton I. iv. 44 She put on her pretty new blue merino, made tight to her throat. 1849C. Brontë Shirley II. ii. 46 These fine sunny days began to make me ashamed of my winter merino; so I have furbished up a lighter garment. 1873‘Susan Coolidge’ What Katy Did at Sch. ix. 148 She shook her head over the simple, untrimmed merinoes and thick cloth cloaks.
3. A fine woollen yarn used in the manufacture of hosiery. Also attrib.
1886Housewife I. 109/1 Garments made of merino, stockingette [etc.]. Ibid., Merino underclothing. Ibid., The material used for darning is..merino. 1888M. Bradshaw Indian Outfits 23 Gauze-flannel and gauze-merino vests are principally worn. 1903Longm. Mag. June 130 A pair of ordinary merino socks.
4. A variety of potato.
1849E. Emmons Agric. N.Y. II. 41 Merino Potato... Not highly esteemed for the table. 1853Trans. Mich. Agric. Soc. V. 208 A great many varieties of the potato are cultivated in Europe and America. Some of the more approved kinds are..the Merino [etc.]. 1887A. W. Tourgée Button's Inn 178 He picked up the potatoes,..—delicate white ‘Kidneys’,..and coarse red ‘Merinoes’.
Add:[3.] b. Chiefly W. Indies. An undershirt, orig. one made of merino.
c1915in Cassidy & Le Page Dict. Jamaican Eng. (1967) 299/2 I've torn my merino. 1936C. L. R. James Minty Alley iii. 19 A tall, heavily-built, quiet-looking youth of about twenty—dressed in a patched and dirty pair of blue trousers and an old jacket without shirt or merino. 1953R. Mais Hills were Joyful Together ii. iii. 163 He was dressed only in his merino and drawers. 1973S. Selvon Ways of Sunlight i. 75 Once a merino was so torn that the owner's wife asked her if it was a net to catch fish in the river. 1985I. Khan Jumble Bird vi. 75 The old man took a merino and pair of trousers from the line which Menna had hung across the front of his room. |