midinette

American  

[mid-n-et, mee-dee-net] / ˌmɪd nˈɛt, mi diˈnɛt /

noun

plural

midinettes

1. a young Parisian saleswoman or seamstress.

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midinette British  

/ ˌmɪdɪˈnɛt, midinɛt /

noun

1. a Parisian seamstress or salesgirl in a clothes shop

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Etymology

Origin of midinette

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

Example Sentences

In Ischl the Sissy of the play disguised herself as a midinette, became betrothed to the Emperor in the room where 61 years later he signed the declaration of war against Serbia.

From Time Magazine Archive

The midinette insisted on her silk stockings and her cheap furs in which rabbit predominated.

From Time Magazine Archive

Women for Bonnard were his wife, Marthe de Meligny, a cute midinette he met when he was 28.

From Time Magazine Archive

My eyes devour the inimitable details of costume, the inexpressible nuances of pose, the indescribable démarche of the midinette.

From The Enormous Room by Cummings, E. E. (Edward Estlin)

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

From France by Home, Gordon Cochrane