Obs. Forms: 6 beliment, bellementte, billament, billemente, billyment, bylli(a)ment, 6–7 billiment(e, 7–8 billement, 8 biliment. [aphetic form of ABILIMENT, HABILIMENT (also abillement, habillament, abyllyment, etc., etc.); used in specific senses of that word.]
1. gen. An ornamental article of (female) attire, an ornament worn by women; = HABILIMENT 6.
[c. 1530. Ld. Berners, Arth. Lyt. Bryt. (1814), 8. Pyers … bought for them abylementes and jewelles.]
1589. Lanc. Wills (1861), 155. I give unto my said wiefe all her chaynes of goolde … billimentes and all apparell.
1611. Cotgr., Dorlot: m. A iewell, or prettie trinket, as a Chaine, brooche, ring, aglet, button, billement, &c, wherewith a woman sets out her apparell, or decks herselfe.
1720. Stow’s Surv. (ed. Strype, 1754), II. V. ix. 270/1. Many Biliments, Chains, Tablets, Buttons, and such like which were commonly worn.
1721–90. Bailey, Billements [i.e., the Habilliments], Ornaments and Cloaths of a Woman.
2. spec. in 16th c.: ‘The attire or ornaments of a woman’s head or neck: or a bonnet: a French hood: a paste or such like.’ Baret, Alvearie, 1580. ‘The jewelled fronts of the ladies’ head-dresses, as we see them in the portraits of Queen Anne Boleyne, etc.’ J. G. Nicholls.
[1555. Fardle Facions, II. vii. 161. The abillementes of their heades are much like the frontlettes that their Magi doe weare.]
a. 1553. Udall, Royster D., II. iii. (Arb.), 35. We shall go in our frenche hoodes … In our tricke ferdegews and billiments of golde.
a. 1556. Chron. Gr. Friars (1852), 43. Thene [1539] beganne alle the gentylwomen of Yngland to were Frenche whooddes with bellementtes of golde.
1583. Golding, Calvin on Deut. lxxvii. 472. Women weare billiments of gold, and other costly attyres vpon their heades.
! 1611. Cotgr., Bavolet: m. A Billiment, or head-attire, worne by the women of Picardie.
3. Biliment lace: an ornamental lace used in the 16th c. for trimming.
1578. Inv. Jas. Backhouse, in Draper’s Dict., 187. Lace 5d to 9d per dozen. vij doz. and a d. of bylliament, 8s. … x owncis of sylke bylliment, 12s.
1588. Lanc. Wills (1861), 139. One velvett jerkin laid one wth billimt lace.
1600. Queen’s Wardrobe, in Nichols, Progr. Q. Eliz., III. 501. One frocke of clothe of golde … with a billament lace of Venice Golde.
