[Fr. tablier: see TABLER1.]
† 1. A chess-board; = TABLER1 1. Obs. rare–1.
1474. Caxton, Chesse, IV. i. I vij. For to represente the mesure of this cyte, in whiche this playe or game was founden, the philosopher that fond hit first ordeyned a tablier conteynyng lxiiij poyntes square.
2. A part of a lady’s dress resembling an apron; the front of a skirt cut or trimmed in the form of an apron.
1835. Court Mag., VI. p. xvii/2. The skirts of these latter are closed before, and trimmed with folds in the form of a tablier.
1862. Eng. Wom. Dom. Mag., IV. 236/1. The dress … ornamented in front with a tablier of white satin.
1885. Pall Mall. G., 29 Jan., 9/1. The bride … wore a dress of striped white satin with pearl tablier in front and net veil.
1903. Daily Chron., 30 May, 8/4. At the edge of the tablier skirt that falls loosely over the deep flounce. Ibid. (1908), 4 Aug., 7/5. [The gown] has what the French call a ‘tablier,’ that is a plain breadth let in down the front of the skirt.
3. Name for the enlarged labia pudendi characteristic of Hottentot women.
1893. Edin. Rev., April, 294. The tablier is usual among their women and believed to be a mark of race.
