Madonna braid

English

Etymology

After the manner of Italian representations of the Madonna.

Noun

Madonna braid (plural Madonna braids)

1. A smooth braid arranged on a side of the face.
   • 1828, “Records of the Beau Monde. Fashions for September, 1828. Explanation of the Prints of the Fashions.”, in La Belle Assemblée, or Court and Fashionable Magazine; Containing Interesting and Original Literature, and Records of the Beau-Monde, volume VIII, London: […] Geo. B. Whittaker, […], page 120, column 2:

     Madonna braids are next the face, and the curls beyond.

   • 1829, Souvenir, page 317, column 2; quoted in “Madonna”, in James A. H. Murray [et al.], editors, A New English Dictionary on Historical Principles (Oxford English Dictionary), volumes VI, Part 2 (M–N), London: Clarendon Press, 1884–1928, →OCLC, page 19, column 1:

     The hair is beautifully arranged in a Madonna braid in front.

   • 1887, Margaret Jameson, Training: A Tale of North-Country Life, volume II, London: Tinsley Brothers, […], page 102:

     The luxuriant brown hair was coiled simply at the back, and confined by a tortoiseshell comb; the front was parted in Madonna braids from the clear, intelligent brow, and being exceedingly long, and simply crossed over the coil at the back of the head, hung down behind each ear in two or three beautiful drooping curls.

   • 1999, Margit Kaffka, translated by George F. Cushing, Colours and Years, Corvina Books Ltd., →ISBN, page 61:

     Besides, at the piano sat Ágnes Kallós, István’s fiancée, in a white dress, her luxuriant hair in a Madonna-braid.

   • 2003, John Baker, The Meanest Flood, Orion Books, →ISBN, page 134:

     He remembered her with her hair parted in the centre and arranged smoothly on either side of her face in a Madonna braid.

References

• James A. H. Murray [et al.], editors (1884–1928), “Madonna”, in A New English Dictionary on Historical Principles (Oxford English Dictionary), volumes VI, Part 2 (M–N), London: Clarendon Press, →OCLC, page 19, column 1.