subs. (old).—1. A woman: generic: cf. MUSLIN; PETTICOAT; PLACKET, etc. Hence TIED TO ONE’S APRON STRINGS (or APRON-LED) = (1) under petticoat-rule, hen-pecked; and (2) in close attendance: APRON-HOLD (or APRON-STRING HOLD, or TENURE) = a life interest in a wife’s estate (GROSE); APRON-SQUIRE (see APPLE-SQUIRE); APRON-HUSBAND = a domestic meddler; APRON-UP = pregnant, LUMPY (q.v.). Also (proverbial): ‘Wise as her mother’s APRON-STRINGS’ = dependent on a mother’s bidding.
1542. UDALL, The Apophthegmes of Erasmus, 118. We say in english, As wise as a gooce, or as WISE AS HER MOTHERS APEREN STRING.
1611. DEKKER, The Roaring Girle [Works (1873), 177]. I cannot abide these APERNE HUSBANDS: such cotqueanes.
1647. WARD, The Simple Cobler of Aggawam in America, 63. APRON-STRING TENURE is very weak, tyed but of a slipping knot, which a childe may undoe, much more a King.
1712. ADDISON, Spectator, No. 506. The fair sex … heartily despise one, who … is always HANGING AT THEIR APRON-STRINGS.
1744. W. ELLIS, The Modern Husbandman, VI. ii. 118. [He] being possessed of a house and large orchard by APRON-STRING-HOLD, felled almost all his fruit trees, because he every day expected the death of his sick wife.
1753. RICHARDSON, The History of Sir Charles Grandison, IV. 23. He cursed the APRON-STRING TENURE, by which he said he held his peace.
1804. BARBAULD, Richardson, I. 160. All her fortune in her own power—a very APRON-STRING TENURE.
1809. MALKIN, Gil Blas [ROUTLEDGE], 40. An old devotee, who … always keeps her servant AT HER APRON-STRING.
1834. EDGEWORTH, Helen, viii. From the moment he SLIPPED HIS MOTHER’S APRON-STRINGS, [he] had fallen into folly.
1849. MACAULAY, The History of England, II. 649. He could not submit to be TIED TO THE APRON-STRINGS even of the best of wives.
2. (old).—Generic for one wearing an APRON: e.g., a shopkeeper, a waiter, a workman: also APRON-MAN, APRON-ROGUE, APRONEER. [Spec. the Parliamentary party (many of whom were of humble origin) during the Civil War: by Cavaliers in contempt]. Hence (3) = a cleric of rank, a bishop or dean (also APRON-AND-GAITERS). As verb. (colloquial) = to cover with (or as with) an APRON; and APRONED = of the working-class, mechanic. Hence CHECKERED-APRON = a barber; BLUE-APRON (q.v.); GREEN-APRON = a lay-preacher; WHITE-APRON = a whore.
1592. J. LYLY, Mydas, iii. 2.
| Caper then, | |
| And cry up CHECKERD-APRON men. |
1607. SHAKESPEARE, Coriolanus, iv. 6. 96.
| You have made good work, | |
| You and your APRON MEN. |
1609. ROWLEY, A Search for Money [HALLIWELL]. We had the salute of welcome, gentlemen, presently: Wilt please ye see a chamber? It was our pleasure, as we answered the APRON-MAN, to see.
1611. CHAPMAN, May-Day (1873), II. 376. Quint. We have no wine here methinks; where’s this APERNER? Draw. Here, sir.
1628. FELTHAM, Resolves, xx. (1635), 73. Hee prodigals a Mine of Excellenceie that lavishes a terse Oration to an APRON’D Auditory.
1654. T. WARREN, Unbeleevers no subjects of Justification, nor of mystical Union to Christ, 145. It more befits a GREEN-APRON preacher, than such a Gamaliel.
1658. CLEVELAND, Rustic Ramp [Works, 1687], 429. APRON-MEN and Plough-joggers.
1659. GAUDEN, The Tears of the Church, 238. He is scared with the menaces of some prating sequestrator, or some surly APRONIERE. Ibid., 244. The APRON antipathy, of a rustick, mechanick and illiterate breeding.
1663. KILLIGREW, The Parson’s Wedding [DODSLEY, Old Plays (1780), XI. 382]. APRON-ROGUES with horn hands.
1688. RANDLE HOLME, Academy of Armoury. A barber is always known by his CHECQUE party-coloured APRON; neither can he be termed a barber till his apron be about him.
1690. D’URFEY, Collin’s Walk through London and Westminster, iii. 107.
| But every sturdy APRONEER, | |
| Arm’d with battoon, did straight appear. |
d. 1704. T. BROWN, Works, iii. 292. The silly and trifling queries of the BLUE and GREEN APRON-MEN.
1705. HICKERINGILL, Priest-Craft, Its Character and Consequences, I. (1721), 21. Unbeneficed Non-Con’s (that live by Alms, and no Pater-noster, no Peny, says the GREEN-APRONS).
1733. POPE, Imitations of Horace. And others hunt WHITE APRONS in the mall.
[1765. TUCKER, The Light of Nature Pursued, II. 451. The gifted priestess among the Quakers is known by her GREEN APRON.]
1865. DICKENS, Our Mutual Friend, III. iv. 289. I mean to APRON it and towel it.
1880. BLACKMORE, Mary Anerley, III. xvi. 230. The bramble APRONED the yellow dup of shale with brown.
