Definitions

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun A string such as was used on a lute.
  • noun One of certain noctuid moths: so called from the lines on the fore wings, likened to lutestrings: as, the poplar-lutestring, Cymatophora or; the lesser lutestring, C. diluta.
  • noun A plain glossy kind of silk formerly used for women's dresses.
  • noun A ribbon of such silk.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • noun A plain, stout, lustrous silk, used for ladies' dresses and for ribbon.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun archaic A plain, stout, lustrous silk, used for ladies' dresses and for ribbon.

Etymologies

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

Corrupted form of French lustring, probably influenced by lute.

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Examples

  • In the audience: the dashing Prince Rupert in a pink lutestring coat with silver lace, seen tête-à-tête avec clever Dickie Rider, the master builder of the theatre.

    Exit the Actress Priya Parmar 2011

  • In the audience: the dashing Prince Rupert in a pink lutestring coat with silver lace, seen tête-à-tête avec clever Dickie Rider, the master builder of the theatre.

    Exit the Actress Priya Parmar 2011

  • Mr. Clarke was dressed in pompadour, with gold buttons; and his lovely Dolly in a smart checked lutestring, a present from her mistress.

    The Life and Adventures of Sir Launcelot Greaves 2004

  • The lady was all of a flutter with faded lutestring, washed gauze, and ribbons three times refreshed; but she was most remarkable for the frisure of her head, which rose, like a pyramid, seven inches above the scalp, and her face was primed and patched from the chin up to the eyes; nay, the gallant himself had spared neither red nor white in improving the nature of his own complexion.

    The Expedition of Humphry Clinker 2004

  • I myself know an instance of one of the most creditable marchands in this capital, who demanded six francs an ell for some lutestring, laying his hand upon his breast at the same time, and declaring en conscience, that it had cost him within three sols of the money.

    Travels through France and Italy 2004

  • Accordingly, it is white lutestring, covered and full-trimmed with white crape, festooned with lilac ribbon and mock point-lace, over a hoop of enormous size.

    The Atlantic Monthly, Volume 03, No. 19, May, 1859 Various

  • Hannah was dressed in a lead-courlered habbit, open, with a lylack lutestring scirt.

    Journal of a Young Lady of Virginia, 1782 Lucinda Lee Orr

  • It was a blue lutestring habit, taffety apron and handkerchief, with the most butiful little hat on the side of her head I ever saw.

    Journal of a Young Lady of Virginia, 1782 Lucinda Lee Orr

  • -- This was the first day I changed my mourning; -- a white lutestring, with the fine suit of rough garnets your Ladyship gave me, was my dress on the occasion.

    Barford Abbey Susannah Minific Gunning

  • Even Faith opened her eyes wide to stare upward, for there was something sliding through one of the portholes above their heads, and dropping softly downwards -- a small package done up in crinkly pink paper, and tied neatly about with blue lutestring.

    All Aboard A Story for Girls Fannie E. Newberry

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