midinette

[ mid-n-et; French mee-dee-net ]

noun

, plural mid·i·nettes [mid-n-, ets, mee-dee-, net].

1. a young Parisian saleswoman or seamstress.

midinette

/ ˌmɪdɪˈnɛt; midinɛt /

noun

1. a Parisian seamstress or salesgirl in a clothes shop

Word History and Origins

Origin of midinette¹

1905–10; < French, blend of midi noon and dînette light meal ( dinner, -ette ); hence, one who has time for only a light meal at noon, with play on -ette as a feminine personal suffix, as in grisette grisette

Word History and Origins

Origin of midinette¹

C20: from French, from midi noon + dinette light meal, since the girls had time for no more than a snack at midday

Example Sentences

As a whole the midinette class is badly fed and therefore delicate and too often a prey to consumption.

From Project Gutenberg

The midinettes, the “cash” girls of the great department stores and millinery shops, had no money to contribute, so some one thought of giving them a chance to help the soldiers with their needles.

From Project Gutenberg

She too was of her race, alert, vivacious, and as neat as a trivet, as became a former midinette of the rue de la Paix and a daughter of Batignolles.

From Project Gutenberg

The solo is Massenet, simon-pure Massenet, the idol of the Paris midinette.

From Project Gutenberg

The midinettes were allowed to leave their work.

From Project Gutenberg