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The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 (gcide)

Livery \Liv"er*y\, n.; pl. {Liveries}. [OE. livere, F.
livr['e]e, formerly, a gift of clothes made by the master to
his servants, prop., a thing delivered, fr. livrer to
deliver, L. liberare to set free, in LL., to deliver up. See
{Liberate}.]
1. (Eng. Law)
(a) The act of delivering possession of lands or
tenements.
(b) The writ by which possession is obtained.
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Note: It is usual to say, {livery of seizin}, which is a
feudal investiture, made by the delivery of a turf, of
a rod, a twig, or a key from the feoffor to the feoffee
as a symbol of delivery of the whole property. There
was a distinction of {livery in deed} when this
ceremony was performed on the property being
transferred, and {livery in law} when performed in
sight of the property, but not on it. In the United
States, and now in Great Britain, no such ceremony is
necessary, the delivery of a deed being sufficient as a
livery of seizin, regardless of where performed.
--Black's 4th Ed.
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2. Release from wardship; deliverance.
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It concerned them first to sue out their livery from
the unjust wardship of his encroaching prerogative.
--Milton.
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3. That which is delivered out statedly or formally, as
clothing, food, etc.; especially:
(a) The uniform clothing issued by feudal superiors to
their retainers and serving as a badge when in
military service.
(b) The peculiar dress by which the servants of a nobleman
or gentleman are distinguished; as, a claret-colored
livery.
(c) Hence, also, the peculiar dress or garb appropriated
by any association or body of persons to their own
use; as, the livery of the London tradesmen, of a
priest, of a charity school, etc.; also, the whole
body or company of persons wearing such a garb, and
entitled to the privileges of the association; as, the
whole livery of London.
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A Haberdasher and a Carpenter,
A Webbe, a Dyer, and a Tapicer,
And they were clothed all in one livery
Of a solempne and a gret fraternite. --Chaucer.
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From the periodical deliveries of these
characteristic articles of servile costume (blue
coats) came our word livery. --De Quincey.
(d) Hence, any characteristic dress or outward appearance.
" April's livery." --Sir P. Sidney.
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Now came still evening on, and twilight gray
Had in her sober livery all things clad.
--Milton.
(e) An allowance of food statedly given out; a ration, as
to a family, to servants, to horses, etc.
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The emperor's officers every night went through
the town from house to house whereat any English
gentleman did repast or lodge, and served their
liveries for all night: first, the officers
brought into the house a cast of fine manchet
[white bread], and of silver two great pots, and
white wine, and sugar. --Cavendish.
(f) The feeding, stabling, and care of horses for
compensation; boarding; as, to keep one's horses at
livery.
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What livery is, we by common use in England know
well enough, namely, that is, allowance of horse
meat, as to keep horses at livery, the which
word, I guess, is derived of livering or
delivering forth their nightly food. --Spenser.
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It need hardly be observed that the explanation
of livery which Spenser offers is perfectly
correct, but . . . it is no longer applied to
the ration or stated portion of food delivered
at stated periods. --Trench.
(g) The keeping of horses in readiness to be hired
temporarily for riding or driving; the state of being
so kept; also, the place where horses are so kept,
also called a {livery stable}.
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Pegasus does not stand at livery even at the
largest establishment in Moorfields. --Lowell.
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4. A low grade of wool.
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{Livery gown}, the gown worn by a liveryman in London.
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Livery \Liv"er*y\, v. t.
To clothe in, or as in, livery. --Shak.
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