court dress

noun

1. the formal costume required to be worn at a royal court on ceremonial and other occasions.

court dress

noun

1. the formal clothing worn at court

Word History and Origins

Origin of court dress¹

First recorded in 1690–1700

Example Sentences

The queen, the wife of King Charles III, was wearing a white dress at the All England Club, where the players on court dress all in white.

From Seattle Times

"Court dress is velvet coat and breeches, with cut steel buttons, a ruffle and a white waistcoat," says Sir Simon.

From BBC

A portrait of Napoleon in court dress, giving the Sun King the side eye from one wall over, serves as an entertaining complement.

From New York Times

“He had a consciousness that was informed by the history of racism and his own experience of racism both growing up and in the industry. He was a very private person and a master of compartmentalization, largely as a reaction to that. He didn’t reveal himself to many beyond the news release. But on the bookshelves of his White Plains house were scholarly books on 17th-century French court dress next to first edition copies of Paul Robeson’s biography and Henry Louis Gates Jr.’s history of Black America.”

From New York Times

Accompanied by portraits of lace-wearing notables, it ranges from the early 1600s forward, starting with samplers, borders and collars, through the opulence of Spanish and French court dress to a phalanx of 21st-century haute couture.

From New York Times

Related Words

• regalia