Obs. [a. OF. cheveçaille, -essaile, part of any garment that goes round the neck, collar (:—L. type *capitiāle, -ia), f. OF. chevece:—L. capitia, pl. of capitium, opening for the head in a tunic, neckband, collar, f. capit- head: cf. CAVESSON.]
The collar of a coat, gown, or other garment; in the 14th c. often richly ornamented. (By late antiquaries, historical novelists, etc., apparently often taken for a gorget, necklace, or collar, as a separate article of attire.)
c. 1400. Rom. Rose, 1082. Aboute hir nekke of gentyl entayle Was shete the riche chevesaile, In which ther was fulle gret plente Of stones clere and bright to see.
[1605. Camden, Rem. (1637), 196. They had also about this time [Rich. II.] a gorget called a Chevesail, for as yet they used no bands about their necke.
1843. Lytton, Last Bar., I. ix. Some nowches and knackeries … indifferently well wrought, specially a chevesail.
1847–9. Rossetti, Bride’s Prel., ix. Around her throat the fastenings met Of chevesayle and mantelet.]
