livery company

noun

one of the chartered companies of the City of London originating from the craft guilds

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Winged bulls are the supporters of the Butchers' Livery Company.

It is a livery company, and very rich, governed by a prime and five other wardens, and a court of assistants.

The word is now rarely used except as the name of one of the London livery companies (see Livery Company).

The freedom and rights of citizenship of the city could only be obtained through membership in a livery company.

Ambitious merchants joined a livery company to become freemen of the city and for the status and social benefits of membership.

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