Hi everyone
...while googling...I found this entry in Samuel Johnson's Dictionary
(pub. 1755)
I thought it would be interesting to know how lace as we know it, was
defined at the timing (see #4 and possibly #5 - the latter could be
round braid)
LACE 1 n.s. [lacet, French; laqueus, Latin.]
1. A string; a cord.
"There the fond fly entangled, struggled long, Himself to free
thereout; but all in vain: For striving more, the more in laces strong
Himself he tied, and wrapt his winges twain In limy snares, the subtil
loops among." (Spenser.)
2. A snare; a gin.
"The king had snared been in love's strong lace." (Fairfax)
3. A platted string, with which women fasten their clothes.
"O! cut my lace, lest my heart cracking, it Break too. Shakespeare's
Winter's Tale.
Doll ne'er was call'd to cut her lace, Or throw cold water in her
face." (Swift)
4. Ornaments of fine thread curiously woven.
"Our English dames are much given to the wearing of costly laces;
and, if they be brought from Italy, they are in great esteem."
(Bacon's Advice to Villiers)
5. Textures of thread, with gold or silver.
"He wears a stuff, whose thread is coarse and round, But trimm'd with
curious lace." (Herbert)
6. Sugar. A cant word.
"If haply he the sect pursues, That read and comment upon news; He
takes up their mysterious face, He drinks his coffee without lace."
(Prior)
--
Bev in Sooke BC (on Vancouver Island, west coast of Canada)
Cdn. floral bobbins www.woodhavenbobbins.com
blogging lace at www.looonglace.blogspot.com
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