modiste

Definitions

from The Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia

  • noun A woman who deals in articles of fashion, particularly in women's apparel; a milliner or dressmaker.

Examples

  • 'I rather stand in awe of a good milliner or modiste,' she nodded gravely.

    The Little Lady of the Big House, by Jack London

  • But Delia More did not answer, and at this I was puzzled, for I think that Calliope has lived in Friendship since the beginning, when she and Liddy Ember were partners in their little 'modiste' shop.

    Friendship Village, by Zona Gale

  • On emerging from the theatre, he refused to look at the garter of a modiste who was stepping across a gutter, and Courfeyrac, who said: 'I should like to put that woman in my collection,' almost horrified him.

    Les Miserables, by Victor Hugo

Note

This word comes from the French ‘mode,’ fashion.