lawn sleeves

See also: lawn-sleeves

English

Alternative forms

• lawn-sleeves, sleeves of lawn

Etymology

From the sleeves of the bishops' robes, which were made of lawn (“fine linen”).

Noun

lawn sleeves pl (plural only)

1. Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see lawn,‎ sleeves.
2. The sleeves of a bishop's ceremonial garments.
   • 1800, “House of Lords, Wedneday, July 23”, in The Parliamentary Register, volume 12, page 481:

     The LORD CHANCELLOR declared, that in his opinion, a bishop might vote either in his lawn sleeves, or in his robes ; and in proof of it, his Lordship said he hasd more than once seen Bishops vote in a Committee of Privileges without their lawn sleeves.

3. The bishops of the Anglican or Roman Catholic churches.
   • 1777, “Debate on Lord C------n's motion more amending the address”, in John Nichols, editor, The Gentleman's magazine‎^[1], volume 47, E. Cave, page 606:

     I shall implore the aid of the lawn sleeves and ermine on that occasion.

   • 1845, James Anthony Froude, John Tulloch, editors, Fraser's Magazine‎^[2], volume 32, J. Fraser:

     “In the House of Lords, most likely. I rather think of bein there to-morrow night, and shal look sharpish after the lawn sleeves, you ma depend on’t."

References

• Oxford English Dictionary, 1884–1928, and First Supplement, 1933. Volume 6, Page 120 (1908)