subs. phr. (common).—A milliner.

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  1839.  Song in The Little Melodist, quoted in J. Ashton’s The Fleet, 93.

        Will you go to Bagnigge Wells,
            BONNET BUILDER, O!

2

  1868.  BREWER, Dictionary of Phrase and Fable, s.v. ‘Build.’ A milliner is jestingly called a ‘BONNET-BUILDER.’

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