bridelacen.
/ˈbrʌɪdleɪs/, U.S. /ˈbraɪdˌleɪs/ Now historical.
A coloured lace or silk ribbon worn at a wedding, typically distributed as a gift and often used to bind up a sprig of rosemary, etc.It seems that such ribbons had a symbolic value and might be used in other contexts, as at the funeral of an unmarried woman (cf. quot. 1999).
ΘΚΠ
society > society and the community > kinship or relationship > marriage or wedlock > wedding or nuptials > equipment or accessories of wedding > [noun] > emblem or favour > lace to tie favour
bridelace?1578
the world > textiles and clothing > textiles > textile fabric or an article of textile fabric > textile fabric > textile fabric manufactured in specific way > [noun] > consisting of loops or looped stitches > lace > for specific purpose
bridelace?1578
point lace1634
?1578 W. Patten Let. Entertainm. Killingwoorth 26 Euery wight with hiz blu buckeram brydelace vpon a braunch of green broom.
1599 H. Porter Pleasant Hist. Two Angrie Women of Abington sig. C3v A Nosegay bound with laces in his Hat, Bridelaces sir.
1622 J. Boys Wks. 531 You are a kinde friend indeed to come in hither without your wedding apparell, and bride-lace.
1664 T. Killigrew Parsons Wedding iv. ii, in Comedies & Trag. 126 Do you give these favours? are these your Bride-laces?
1865 F. B. Palliser Hist. Lace xxiii. 277 These bride laces..continued in fashion till the Puritans put down all festivals, ruined the commerce of Coventry, and the fabric of blue thread ceased for ever.
1907 W. W. Dixon Queens of Beauty I. i. 10 The foot-boy's reply was to produce some ‘bride laces’, and, with a knowing smile, remark that he was bidden to tell no news but give them those tokens.
1999 C. Gittings Sacred & Secular in P. C. Jupp & C. Gittings Death in Eng. vi. 158 Sometimes such women received ribbons, significantly called ‘bridelaces’, while aprons were occasionally given at men's funerals when members of the same occupational group as the deceased carried him to burial.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2019; most recently modified version published online December 2021).
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n.?1578