"That's a great deal to make one word mean," Alice said in a thoughtful tone. "When I make a word do a lot of work like that," said Humpty Dumpty, "I always pay it extra."

Friday 10 June 2011

Tippet

   
A tippet is a stole or scarf-like narrow piece of clothing, worn around the arms and above the elbow. They evolved in the fourteenth century from long sleeves and typically had one end hanging down to the knees. In Victorian times the name tippet came to commonly mean a woman's fur shoulder cape with hanging ends; often consisting of the whole fur of a fox or marten.

3 comments:

  1. And what was it for, actually? To warm the ladies' arms, or give her an accessory to occupy her hands with when she was bored or feeling insecure?
    If it had been floor-length, they could have named it "trippet" :-)

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  2. Just thought I'd make the previous comment so that you would know I was reading and inwardly digesting your words!

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