A. adj. Capable of being worn; fit or suitable to be worn.
1590. Sir J. Smythe, Disc. Weapons, 14. He … did encrease his numbers of Mosquettiers, the blowes of the bullets of which, no armours wearable can resist.
1650. Howell, Giraffi’s Rev. Naples, I. 15. Oil, Cheese, Silk, and all other either edible, or wearable commodities.
1801. Lady Sarah Lennox, Lett. (1901), II. 151. I assure you a poplin is not weareable in these days.
1842. R. Oastler, Fleet Papers, II. 26. It … will not weave into wearable cloths.
1853. G. J. Cayley, Las Alforjas, I. 105. By the time I had made and smoked a cigarette, the powerful sun of January had dried the sock to a wearable state.
1882. Miss Braddon, Mt. Royal, II. ix. 180. The only shop in London at which wearable gloves could be bought.
1896. J. L. Allen, Summer in Arcady, iii. 11. The thousand … things, eatable, wearable, or otherwise usable that may be sent to and fro between friendly households.
B. sb. A wearable commodity, an article of clothing. Chiefly in plural.
1711. Lond. Gaz., No. 4817/7. Gloves, Buttons, Wearables.
c. 1720. Lett. fr. Mist’s Jrnl. (1722), I. 215. I had … provided her handsome Lodgings … and, for her Wearables, rich Sattins, Gold Watch, and a hundred other Trinkets.
1726. Berkeley, Lett., Wks. 1871, IV. 137. Whether a minor be not chargeable for eatables and wearables supplied on the credit of another.
1818. Scott, Hrt. Midl., xli. He … moved off with Mrs. Dutton’s wearables and deposited the trunk containing them safely in the boat.
1849. C. Brontë, Shirley, xxiv. Let a woman ask me to give her an edible or a wearable … I can, at least, understand the demand.
1859. Lever, Dav. Dunn, xlvi. Drawers were crammed with his wearables.
