subs. (colloquial).—A conventional badge of mourning: e.g., a white border of linen or muslin worn at the end of a sleeve, a long crape hatband as worn by men at a funeral, or the long veil of WIDOWS’-WEEDS (q.v.).
1759–62. GOLDSMITH, The Citizen of the World, xcv. Mourners clap bits of muslin on their sleeves, and these are called WEEPERS. Weeping muslin; alas, alas, very sorrowful truly! These WEEPERS then it seems are to bear the whole burthen of the distress.
1760–62. SMOLLETT, Sir Launcelot Greaves, iii. The young squire was even then very handsome, and looked remarkably well in his WEEPERS.
1862. THACKERAY, The Adventures of Philip, ii. It is a funereal street … the carriages which drive there ought to have feathers on the roof, and the butlers who open the doors should wear WEEPERS. Ibid., Bluebeard’s Ghost. She had her beautiful hair confined in crimped caps, and her WEEPERS came over her elbows.
1871–2. G. ELIOT, Middlemarch, lxxx. If anybody was to marry me, flattering himself as I should wear those hijeous WEEPERS two years for him, he’d be deceived by his own vanity, that’s all.
TO WEEP IRISH, verb. phr. (old).—To lament prodigally, to wail: spec. without sincerity, to shed crocodile’s tears.
1650. FULLER, A Pisgah Sight of Palestine, II. xii. 15. Surely the Egyptians did not WEEP IRISH with feigned and mercenary tears.
1710. CENTLIVRE, A Bickerstaff’s Burying, Sc. 1. Capt. What the Devil can be the Matter? why all this Noise? here’s none but Friends; I don’t apprehend that any body can over-hear you; this is something like the IRISH CRY; I suppose it is the Custom of the Country.
