powdering gown

English

Noun

powdering gown (plural powdering gowns)

  1. (now historical) A loose dressing gown worn while the hair or wig was being powdered. [from 18th c.]
    • 1792, Charlotte Smith, “Letter XI. To Mr. Desmond.”, in Desmond. […], volume I, London: […] G[eorge,] G[eorge,] J[ohn] and J[ames] Robinson, […], →OCLC, page 216:
      […] I took only my coat off, and wrapping myſelf in a flannel powdering gown, I threw myſelf on the embroidered counterpane, and ſoon after ſunk into forgetfulneſs.
    • 1798, Mary Wollstonecraft Godwin, “[Maria: or, The] Wrongs of Woman”, in W[illiam] Godwin, editor, Posthumous Works of the Author of A Vindication of the Rights of Woman. […], volume II, London: […] J[oseph] Johnson, […]; and G[eorge,] G[eorge] and J[ohn] Robinson, […], →OCLC, chapter IX, page 14:
      I think I now ſee him lolling in an arm-chair, in a dirty powdering gown, ſoiled linen, ungartered ſtockings, and tangled hair, yawning and ſtretching himſelf.
    • 1802, Frances Burney, Journals and Letters, Penguin, published 2001, page 423:
      My beloved Mr Lock, in his powdering Gown, and half shaved, followed, to congratulate me […] .
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