Also 7–8 vinaigret, 7, 9 vinegrette, 9 vinaigaret. [F. vinaigrette vinegar-sauce (also in senses 2 and 3), f. vinaigre VINEGAR sb.]
† 1. A condiment prepared with vinegar. Obs.–1
1699. Evelyn, Acetaria, 20. Cucumber,… tho’ very cold and moist, the most approved Sallet alone, or in Composition, of all the Vinaigrets, to sharpen the Appetite.
2. A small two-wheeled carriage drawn or pushed by persons, formerly in use in France. Now only Hist.
1698. W. King, trans. Sorbière’s Journ. Lond., 6. I saw a little Master in a little Vinegrette, drawn along by two Boys, much bigger then himself, and push’d behind by a Maid.
1698. M. Lister, Journ. Paris (1699), 13. The Vinegrette, a Coach on Two Wheels, dragg’d by a Man, and push’d behind by a Woman or Boy, or both.
1898. A. Balfour, To Arms, xxiv. 272. The vinegrettes plying hither and thither … are like Sedans mounted on two thin wheels.
3. A small ornamental bottle or box usually containing a sponge charged with some aromatic or pungent salts; a smelling-bottle.
1811. Miss L. M. Hawkins, C’tess & Gertr., I. 55. She had no resource but silence, her fan and her vinaigrette.
1847. C. Brontë, Jane Eyre, xviii. The matrons, meantime, offered vinaigrettes and wielded fans.
1866. Geo. Eliot, F. Holt, xxxix. She … took up … a gold vinaigrette which Mrs. Transome often liked to carry with her.
b. transf. Applied to a person.
1836. T. Hook, G. Gurney, I. iv. 140. I would not … have ventured to confess to my most exemplary parent, more especially in the presence of the fair vinaigrette,… the adventure at Twickenham.
