Forms: 4–7 wardrop, -ropp, 5–6 -roppe, (4–5 wadrop, 5 warderop, 6 warderoppe), 4–5 warderope, 4–8 wardrope, warderobe, (5 warddrope, 6 warderob, Sc. wardroippe, -rape, wairdrope, 7 waredrop), 4– wardrobe. [a. OF. warderobe, north-eastern var. of garderobe: see GARDEROBE.]
† 1. A room in which wearing apparel (sometimes armor) was kept; esp. a room adjoining the ‘chamber’ or sleeping apartment; hence, a dressing-room. Obs.
In the 16–18th c. often applied (after the contemporary F. garderobe) to a room for keeping costly objects generally, not merely articles of clothing.
1387–8. T. Usk, Test. Love, II. ix. (Skeat), l. 140. Jupiter hath in his warderobe bothe garmentes of joye and of sorowe.
a. 1400[?]. Morte Arth., 901. Aftyre euesange, sir Arthure hyme selfene Wente to hys wardrope, and warpe of hys wedez, Armede hym in a actone [etc.]. Ibid., 2622. A knafe of his chambyre Has wroghte in his wardrope wynters and ȝeres, One his longe armour. Ibid., 4217. He braydes owte a brande … That … In the wardrop of Walyngfordhe was wonte to be kepede.
a. 1400–50. Bk. Curtasye, 429, in Babees Bk. The marshalle shalle herber alle men in fere, That ben of court of any mestere; Saue þe lordys chambur, þo wadrop to, Þo vssher of chambur schalle tent þo two.
c. 1460. J. Russell, Bk. Nurture, 939. In þe warderobe ye must muche entende besily the robes to kepe well & also to brusche þem clenly.
1519. Registr. Aberdon. (Maitl. Club), II. 174. The chawmer abun þe wardrape with Item ane standing bed of aik wiþouit lofting.
1574. in Gage, Hengrave (1822), 202. To young John Dawson for xvij days work sewing in the wardrope, vs. viijd.
1590. Spenser, F. Q., I. x. 39. The third had of their wardrobe custodie, In which were not rich tyres, nor garments gay,… But clothes meet to keepe keene could away.
1596. Ralegh, Discov. Guiana, 11. He had in his wardroppe hollow statues of golde.
1599. Shaks., Hen. V., II. Chorus 2. Now … silken Dalliance in the Wardrobe lyes: Now thriue the Armorers.
1631. May, trans. Barclay’s Mirr. Mindes, I. 170. His Lord laughing heartily, commanded a furrd gowne to bee brought out of his wardrope, and put vpon him.
1683. J. Reid, Scots Gard’ner (1907), 4. Above the dining-room story may be bed-chambers,… and above these you may have garrets for wardrops.
a. 1700. Evelyn, Diary, 25 Jan. 1645. in the wardrobe above they shew’d us fine wrought plate, porcelan, [etc.].
1717. Prior, Dove, xxv. Her Keys He takes; her Doors unlocks; Thro’ Wardrobe, and thro’ Closet bounces.
1756–7. Keysler’s Trav. (1760), I. 37. In the royal wardrobe at Paris, they show you the whole suit of armour which Francis wore on that memorable day.
1831. Scott, Kenilw., VI. With this enviable sleeping apartment … corresponded two wardrobes, or dressing-rooms as they are now termed.
1847. Halliwell, Wardrope, a dressing-room. Yorksh.
1859. Rose Piddington, Last of Cavaliers, I. xvii. 230. The general scene of their conversations … was Lady Flora’s dressing-room, or wardrobe as it was then called. This apartment was divided on the inside from her sleeping-chamber by three or four steps.
b. A room in which theatrical costumes and properties are kept.
1711. Addison, Spect., No. 44, ¶ 5. It is indeed very odd … to observe in the Wardrobe of the Play-house several Daggers, Poniards, Wheels, Bowls for Poison.
1867. Chamb. Encycl., IX. 390/1. There are also numerous apartments required in connection with the stage…—such as … the wardrobe, in which the costumes are kept; furniture stores, scene stores.
c. A movable closed cupboard, fitted with hooks or pegs, or with shelves or movable trays and drawers, in which wearing apparel is kept; esp. as a piece of bedroom furniture.
1794. A. Hepplewhite, Cabinet-Maker (ed. 3), title-p., Displaying a great variety of patterns for Chairs,… Basin Stands, Wardrobes, [etc.].
1833. Loudon, Encycl. Archit., § 626. Wardrobes are as essential in a bed-room, as a dresser is in a cottager’s kitchen.
1842. Dickens, Amer. Notes, iii. Our bedroom … had one unusual luxury, however, in the shape of a wardrobe of painted wood.
1864. Miss Braddon, Doctor’s Wife, I. x. 256. A lumbering old wardrobe—or press, as it was called—of painted wood.
1883. D. C. Murray, Hearts, xi. (1885), 82. A great old-fashioned wardrobe of black oak.
d. transf. and fig.
1605. 1st Pt. Jeronimo, III. ii. 17. Now death … crams his store house to the top with bloud; Might I now and Andrea in one fight Make vp thy wardroope richer by a Knight.
1624. Donne, Devot., vi. (ed. 2), 136. Whether it bee thy pleasure, to dispose of this body, this garment so, as to put it to a farther wearing in this world, or to lay it vp in the common wardrope, the graue, for the next.
1630. R. Johnson’s Kingd. & Commw., 543. In this Countrie that false Prophet [Mahomet] first opened his superstitious Wardrobe.
1656. Cowley, Pindar. Odes, To Mr. Hobs, v. I little thought … That all the Wardrobe of rich Eloquence, Could have afforded half enuff, Of bright, of new, and lasting stuff, To cloath the mighty Limbs of thy Gigantique Sence.
1754. Connoisseur, No. 36, ¶ 7. France appears to be the wardrobe of the world.
1821. Lamb, Elia, I. Imperf. Sympathies. Their intellectual wardrobe (to confess fairly) has few whole pieces in it.
1866. G. Macdonald, Ann. Q. Neighb., xxxi. (1878), 539. The dead bodies were laid aside in the ancient wardrobe of the tomb.
2. The office or department of a royal or noble household charged with the care of the wearing apparel. Also, the building in which the officers of this department conduct their business.
Removing wardrobe, that which moves with the Court, as distinguished from Standing wardrobe, one that is permanently attached to a royal residence.
1433. Rolls of Parlt., IV. 439/1. The which Warantes yf I shuld paye hem, youre Household, Chambre, and Warderope, and youre Werkes, shuld be unservid and unpaide. Ibid. (1450), V. 193/2. Oure servaunt Richard Wadnyng, Grome of oure Warderobe of Bedds.
1500–20. Dunbar, Poems, lii. 10. Ȝour Hienes can nocht gett ane meter, To keip your wardope, nor discreter, To rule ȝour robbis, and dress the sam.
1524. Reg. Privy Seal Scot., I. 496/2. Ane Lettre to James Dog … makand him ȝeman of the Kingis wardrop.
1553. Rec. St. Mary at Hill (1905), 55. These parselles of ornamenttes … were Receued of Arthur Stovrton at ye Qvenes wardroppe at westminster.
1601. Shaks., Twel. N., II. V. 45. The Lady of the Strachy, married the yeoman of the wardrob.
1642. Docq. Lett. Pat. at Oxf. (1837), 334. Clement Kinnersley yeoman of his Majesties removinge wardrobe of Beddes.
1642. Standinge Wardrobe [see STANDING ppl. a. 11].
1668. Prynne, Aurum Reg., 127. The Queen [has] the Tayle, to make Whale-bones for her Royal Vestments, Dresses, and other uses in her Wardrobe.
1755. H. Walpole, Lett. to Mann, 29 Sept. Sir Thomas Robinson is to return to the Great Wardrobe, with an additional pension on Ireland of 2000 l. a year.
1886. Encycl. Brit., XXI. 37/1. The bedchamber, privy chamber, and presence chamber, the wardrobe, the housekeeper’s room,… are in the lord chamberlain’s department.
1909. Whitaker’s Almanack, 102. His Majesty’s Household…. Superintendent of the Wardrobe.
3. A person’s stock of wearing apparel.
a. 1400–50. Bk. Curtasye, 565, in Babees Bk. The chaunceler answeres for hor clothyng, For ȝomen, faukeners, and hor horsyng, For his wardrop and wages also.
1599. B. Jonson, Cynthia’s Rev., II. i. If he be furnish’d with supplies for the retyring of his old ward-robe from pawne.
1610. Shaks., Temp., IV. i. 222. Looke what a wardrobe heere is for thee.
1632. Lithgow, Trav., VII. 332. It often hapneth; that a foule and deformed carkasse hath a faire and rich wardrope.
1672. Marvell, Reh. Transp., I. 111. This onely troubles me, how his majesty would look in all … the Pontifical Wardrobe.
a. 1727. Newton, Chronol. Amended, v. (1728), 339. Officers who took care of the Perfume, the Veil, and the Wardrobe of the Priests.
1760–2. Goldsm., Cit. World, lxii. With her scanty wardrobe packed up in a wallet, she set out on her journey on foot.
1834. Mrs. Carlyle, Lett. to Mrs. Carlyle, Sen., 21 Nov., Lett. & Mem. 1883, I. 10. The weather is grown horribly cold, and I am chiefly intent, at present, on getting my winter wardrobe into order.
1870. Miss Bridgman, R. Lynne, II. iii. 55. He insisted on his wire re-marking the whole of the infantile wardrobe.
b. transf. and fig.
1592. Breton, Pilgr. Parad. (Grosart), 8/1. Came Flora forth … Laying abroad the wardrope of her wealth, Her fairest flowers.
1613. Jackson, Creed, I. 78. Vsually the Græcian Poets haue borrowed their best Stage-attire from the glorious wardrope of Israel.
1633. Marmion, Fine Companion, III. iii. A soule … Wherein is lockt the wardrope of all vertues.
1637. Milton, Lycidas, 47. As killing as … Frost to Flowers, that their gay wardrop wear, When first the White thorn blows.
1856. Emerson, Eng. Traits, Literature, Wks. (Bohn), II. 109. New and gigantic thoughts which cannot dress themselves out of any old wardrobe of the past.
† 4. A private chamber; esp. a sleeping apartment. Obs.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 1686. [In the Ark] A hous als in to drink and ete And wardropp þat þou noght for-get.
a. 1450. Knt. de la Tour, vi. 8. As sone as she had herde a litell masse … she come into the warderobe to ete browesse or sum other mete.
c. 1450. Merlin, xxvii. 507. Gyomar … a-bode spekynge with Morgain … in a wardrope vnder the paleys, where she wrought with silke and golde.
a. 1548. Hall, Chron., Edw. IV., 227 b. Kyng Lewes … withdrew himself into hys warderobe, and sending for the English Herault sayd to hym [etc.].
1570. Buchanan, Admonit., Wks. (S.T.S.), 32. This is nowther dreamit in ane wardrob nor hard throw ane boir bot ane trew narrative.
1670. Cotton, Espernon, II. VI. 254. The King without any motion was carried up in a Cloak, and laid upon the Bed in his Wardrobe.
† 5. A privy. Obs. [So F. garderobe.]
1382. Wyclif, 2 Kings x. 27. Thei distroyeden the hous of Baal, and thei maaden for it wardropis [1388 priuyes, Vulg. latrinas] vnto this day.
c. 1386. Chaucer, Prioress’ T., 120. I seye that in a wardrobe they hym threwe Where as thise Iewes purgen hire entraille.
c. 1450. Nominale (Harl. MS. 1002), lf. 145. Cloaca, a pryvaye or wardrope.
1847. Halliwell, Wardrope, a house of office.
† 6. The excrement of the badger. Obs.
c. 1400. Master of Game (MS. Digby 182), xxiv. Of hares and of conynges he shall say þei croteth, and of þe fox wagynge, of þe grey þe warderobe.
1847. Halliwell, Warderebe [sic], the dung of the badger.
7. attrib. and Comb., as wardrobe account, -keeper, -maid, -man, -woman; also wardrobe bedstead, a bedstead adapted to fold up into a wardrobe; wardrobe book, a book in which the accounts of a wardrobe were kept; wardrobe dealer, a dealer in second-hand clothes; wardrobe master, mistress, one who has charge of the professional wardrobe of an actor or actress, or of a theatrical company; wardrobe-room, the room, at a theater, in which the stage-costumes are stored; † wardrobe-stuff, household necessaries and supplies.
1770. Archæologia, I. 361. Observation on the *Wardrobe Account for the Year 1483.
1830. N. H. Nicolas (title), Privy Purse Expenses of Elizabeth of York: Wardrobe Accounts of Edward the Fourth.
1806–7. J. Beresford, Miseries Hum. Life, XX. xxviii. (ed. 3), II. 249. Starting out of your sleep on a *wardrobe bedstead, at the sudden desertion of the temporary posts at the bottom.
1557. Order of the Hospitalls, G viij. You shall also kepe the *Wardrobe-booke, wherein shalbe written … the remainder of all things at euery Michaelmass [etc.].
1896. Daily News, 8 April, 3/6. *Wardrobe dealer.
1763. Crt. & City Kalendar, 81. *Wardrobe-keeper and Keeper of the Royal Apartments at Somerset House. Mrs. Brietzcke, 100l.
1782. D. E. Baker, Biogr. Dram., I. 25/2. This gentleman … had been wardrobe-keeper to the Theatre in Black-Friars.
1821. Scott, Kenilw., xv. The wardrobe keeper,… shall have orders to supply the suit which you have cast away in our service.
1899. Allbutt’s Syst. Med., VIII. 425. The patient … became *wardrobe maid at the Salpêtrière.
1583. Leg. Bp. St. Androis, 1021, in Satir. Poems Reform., xlv. The Bischop … Send for his *wardrop man fre hand.
1667. Pepys, Diary, 2 Sept. He swore … that the king his father would have hanged his Wardrobeman, should he have been served so.
1833. Ht. Martineau, Three Ages, ii. 50. His wardrobeman had this morning lamented that the King had no handkerchiefs.
1897. Emily Soldene, Theatr. & Mus. Recoll., xxix. 249. I … made over the whole of my wardrobe, both personal and professional, to my *wardrobe master. Ibid., xvi. 137. Mrs. Quinton, my *wardrobe mistress, whose husband was super-master.
1885. Jerome, On the Stage, iv. 31. A little lower down was the *wardrobe room. There was not much in it though. Dresses are borrowed as they are wanted, now, from the costumiers.
1537. Rutland MSS. (Hist. MSS. Comm.), IV. 286. Item paid to Peter Barret for his dyner, when he helpe to cary my Lorde’s *wardrope stuffe to Grynwyche, ijd.
1853. Dickens, etc., Househ. Words, Christm. No. 2/2. Jane was a sort of *wardrobe-woman to our fellows [at school], and took care of the boxes.
1892. W. S. Gilbert, Foggerty’s Fairy, 213. She obtained a little employment as dresser and wardrobe-woman at a provincial theatre.
1897. Westm. Gaz., 6 July, 6/3. Mrs. M’Donald … had been for forty years in the Queen’s service, thirty-one of which as wardrobewoman.
