tabard
Definition of tabard:
-
-
part of speech: noun
An ancient close- fitting garment, open at the sides, with wide sleeves, or flaps, reaching to the elbows. It was worn over the body armor, and was generally emblazoned with the arms of the wearer or of his lord. At first the tabard was very long, reaching to the mid- leg, but it was afterwards made shorter. It was at first chiefly worn by the military, but afterwards became an ordinary article of dress among other classes in France and England in the middle ages. In England the tabard is now only worn by heralds and pursuivants of arms, and is embroidered with the arms of the sovereign. This garment gave name to the ancient hostelry from which Chaucer's Canterbury pilgrims started.
-
part of speech: noun
An ancient sort of mantle or tunic, open at the sides, with wide sleeves reaching to the elbows; a herald's coat.
-
Usage examples for tabard:
-
It had been agreed, when they met at the Tabard Inn in Southwark, that each pilgrim should tell four stories- two going and two returning- as they rode along the grassy lanes, then the only roads, to the old cathedral city.
"A Brief History of the English Language and Literature, Vol. 2 (of 2)" – John Miller Dow Meiklejohn -
Among places of minor interest in Southwark, which doubtless Milton well knew, was the " Tabard Inn," the starting- point of Chaucer's Canterbury Pilgrims.
"Milton's England" – Lucia Ames Mead -
As we approached each other, I saw that he wore a plumed helmet, and seemed to be otherwise clothed in steel, but bore a curious addition also- a stiff square garment like a herald's tabard
"A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court, Part 3." – Mark Twain (Samuel Clemens)
