Tag: livery

A livery  /ˈlɪvəri/ is a uniform, insignia or symbol adorning, in a non-military context, a person, an object or a vehicle that denotes a relationship between the wearer of the livery and an individual or corporate body. Often, elements of the heraldry relating to the individual or corporate body feature in the livery. Alternatively, some kind of a personal emblem or badge, or a distinctive colour, is featured.
The word itself derives from the French livrée, meaning dispensed, handed over. Most often it would indicate that the wearer of the livery was a servant, dependent, follower or friend of the owner of the livery, or, in the case of objects, that the object belonged to them.
The phrase ‘to sue one’s livery’ refers to the formal recognition of a noble’s majority, in exchange of payment, for conferring the powers attached to his title, and thereby freeing him from dependence as a ward.
In the 14th century, “livery” referred to an allowance of any kind, but especially clothes…