Sunday Word: Habiliment

[sallymn]

habiliment [huh-bil-uh-muhnt]

noun:
1a clothes or clothing.
1b clothes as worn in a particular profession, way of life, etc.
2 habiliments, accouterments or trappings.

Examples:

Women in America and England acquired a new viewpoint on this subject. They came to feel that they should not withdraw entirely from active life, except for a brief period, nor should they give themselves up to inanimate and sombre seclusion, wrapped in deep habiliments of woe. (Elise Taylor, Can You Wear Black To A Wedding?, British Vogue, August 2023)

This year's theme - bohemian circus - offers gala attendees vast opportunity for donning (and doffing, as the night gets boozy) all manner of embellishment, adornment and costumed habiliment. (Johnathan L Wright, A sneak peek at the sweets of 'Fantasies in Chocolate', Reno Gazette-Journal, October 2015)

The city of Krakow, Poland, is displaying the bloodied habiliment worn by the late Pope John Paul II on the day of an attempted assassination at the Vatican, some 34 years ago, AFP reports (Hili Perlson, Pope John Paul II Blood-Stained Robe Displayed in Krakow, Artnet news, May 2015 )

And now as to your natural question as to what brings me to Earth again and in this, to earthly eyes, strange habiliment. (Edgar Rice Burroughs, The Chessmen of Mars)

"Child of levity and scoffing," replied the other; "you err again, misled by these humble habiliments. I am the Rev. Ezekiel Thrifft, a minister of the gospel, now in the service of the great manufacturing firm of Skinn & Sheer (Ambrose Bierce, 'The Rainmaker')

They wear a veil, or mantle rather, of black stuff or silk, which head habiliment had been introduced by the Spaniards. (Matthew Weld Hartstonge, The Eve of All-Hallows)

(click to enlarge)

Origin:

often habiliments, early 15c, ablement, 'munitions, weapons,' from Old French habillement, abillement, from abiller 'prepare or fit out,' probably from abile, habile 'fit, suitable,' from Latin habilem, habilis 'easily handled, apt,' verbal adjective from habere 'to hold' (from PIE root ghabh- 'to give or receive'). An alternative etymology makes the French verb originally mean 'reduce a tree by stripping off the branches,' from a- 'to' + bille 'stick of wood.' Sense of 'clothing, dress' developed late 15c, by association with habit. (Online Etymology Dictionary)

Habiliment, from Middle French abillement, is a bit old-fashioned and is often used to describe complex, multi-pieced outfits like those of medieval times. For instance, a full suit of armor - which might include a helmet, a gorget, pallettes, brassard, a skirt of tasses, tuilles, gauntlets, cuisses, jambeaus, and sollerets, along with other pieces and plates - can be considered the habiliments of a knight. Nowadays, habiliment, which is usually used in its plural form, is also fitting for the dress of an occupation, such as the different vestments of a priest, or for clothes, such as elegant formal wear, worn on special occasions. When habiliment is used for plain old clothes, it is more than likely for jocular or poetic effect - as we see it being used by William Shakespeare. (Merriam-Webster)

Comments

[full_metal_ox]

Let’s not forget my own first encounter with the word, in a context eminently befitting Spooky Season:

The figure was tall and gaunt, and shrouded from head to foot in the habiliments of the grave.

—Edgar Allan Poe, “The Masque of the Red Death” (1842).

[sallymn]

Oh yes! It does suit weird and horror fiction :)

[full_metal_ox]

It’s a word that belongs in Vincent Price’s mouth.