Searchable Lemmata: drescer (AF), dressen (ME), dres (OScots), dress (MdE).
Alternate Forms: dresse, dressed, dressede, drissede, drissid, idressed.
NOTE(vb.)
Manufacture;
the verb 'dress' ('to dress') has a range of meanings from its earliest appearances in the medieval period, including senses dealing with putting in order, arranging, preparing, getting ready, treating (in a certain way) etc. Only senses relating to cloth and clothing are offered below, which do not seem to have been current in AF uses of the term. By the early Modern period (16th century), the verb had developed the additional sense 'to prepare a fibre for spinning'; or 'to prepare cloth or to prepare (curry) leather' [cf. 1513-14, Act 5 Hen. VIII, c. 3 Preamb., 'Marchauntes should be bounden to dresse every white Cloth ... on this side the See after they have bought theym'].
Use: n/a Status: n/a Rank: n/a Ceremonial: No
Body Parts: N/A.
1a(vb.)
Utilisation;
to put or place on (someone or something); to set or lay (a crown, armour, etc.), esp. in the construction 'dress on' or 'dress upon'.(ante 1300 - circa 1450)
Sex: Male, Female, Infant Use: n/a Status: n/a Rank: n/a Ceremonial: No
Body Parts: N/A.
1b(vb.)
Utilisation;
to put in order or place in position, to straighten, arrange; also, to ornament, garnish, adorn.(ante 1300 still in current use)
2. [193] ... Seyn come þer sewes sere ... Ownde of azure all ouer & ardant [?read: argant] þem semyde, Of ilke a leche þe lowe launschide full hye ... [218] ... And the conquerour..so clenly arayede In colours of clene golde cleede .. Drissid with his dyademe
Arthurian, Heroic, Poetic, Romance.
[MED Morte Arth.(1) ((Thrn) 193-218) circa 1440]
3. Gromes of chambyr, x, therof one is groome porter that berith wood, strawe, russhes, for the King's chambrer ... to help dresse the beddes of sylke and arras ... Another of these groomes is called ... groome surgeon, another groome pelter
Legal.
[MED Ordin.Househ.Edw.IV ((Hrl 642) 41) circa 1475]
Sex: Male, Female, Infant Use: n/a Status: n/a Rank: n/a Ceremonial: No
Body Parts: N/A.
1c(vb.)
Utilisation;
to clothe or arm (oneself or others): to put on clothes, garments, vestments, adornments, armour or similar. Frequently appears as a past participle.(ante 1400 ? still in current use)
Sex: Male, Female Use: n/a Status: n/a Rank: n/a Ceremonial: No
Body Parts: N/A.
Definite, AF drescer and Old French drecier, dresser (to arrange, prepare, etc.). AF usage does not seem to include contexts referring to cloth or clothing.
The Modern English noun dress 'the act of dressing; that which is worn, set of garments' (later) 'specific garment for women' is recorded in the OED from the late sixteenth century onwards.
WF:
Etym Cog:
References:
