What does apparel constitute?

Question

Does the word 'apparel' cover hats, caps as well or only things put over a body?

Usenet · Accepted Answer

[nq:1]Does the word 'apparel' cover hats, caps as well or only things put over a body?[/nq]
What does your dictionary say?

Usenet · Answer

[nq:2]Does the word 'apparel' cover hats, caps as well or only things put over a body?[/nq]
[nq:1]What does your dictionary say?[/nq]
ap·par·el ( P ) Pronunciation Key (-prl)
n.
Clothing, especially outer garments; attire.
A covering or adornment: trees with their apparel of foliage.

tr.v. ap·par·eled, or ap·par·elled ap·par·el·ing, or ap·par·el·ling ap·par·els or ap·par·els
To clothe or dress.
To adorn or embellish.
I read many times but I still do not know the answer to my question. Hence, I asked.

Usenet · Answer

[nq:1]Does the word 'apparel' cover hats, caps as well or only things put over a body?[/nq]
Yes. This word is nowadays old-fashioned, but
fashion (clothing) retail stores offered the basic clue when divided into departments of "Gentlemen's Apparel" and "Ladies' Apparel." Each sold hats and gloves as well as shirts, suits and underwear, excluding only (in some cases?) shoes.
NB: uses of the word apparel to indicate something other than clothing are metaphorical.

Don Phillipson
Carlsbad Springs
(Ottawa, Canada)

Usenet · Answer

[nq:1]NB: uses of the word apparel to indicate something other than clothing are metaphorical.[/nq]
I don't think I can do that right now, Dave ...
You might want to consider these from OED (admittedly from days of yore, and often arch. or obs., but our young questioner may still come across them)
?2. concr. Things provided for any purpose, and employed in its performance; material, requisites, apparatus. Obs.
1725 tr. Dupin's Eccl. Hist. 17th C. I. v. 63 The Apparel of theMass+the Habits, the Vessels, and other Ornaments+made use of in the Celebration of it.
?3. The furniture and appendages of a house, fortress, gun, etc. Obs.
1535 Coverdale 1 Kings vii. 48 All the apperell (Wyclif & 1611vessels) that belonged vnto the house of the Lorde.
4. The outfit or rigging of a ship. arch.
1819 Wordsw. Waggoner ii. 161 Back to her place the ship he led;Wheeled her back in full apparel. 1882 Charter-party, What she (the vessel) can reasonably stow+over and above her Tackle, Apparel, Provisions, and Furniture.
?d. as hunting term (see quot.). Obs.

1575 Turberv. Venerie 128 At his sides+a thinne kinde of redde fleshewhich hunters call the apparel of an hart.
b. esp. Ornamental embroidery on certain ecclesiastical vestments. revived.

1844 Pugin Gloss. Eccl. Orn. 5 The Albe+should be made+withapparells+worked in silk and gold, embroidered with ornaments. 1849 Rock Ch. of Fathers I. v. 438 Apparels were+stitched on to the upper part of the amice, like a collar to it.

John Dean
Oxford

Usenet · Answer

[nq:2]What does your dictionary say?[/nq]
[nq:1]ap=B7par=B7el ( P ) Pronunciation Key (-prl) n. Clothing, especially outer garments; attire. A covering or adornment: trees with their apparel of foliage. To adorn or embellish. I read many times but I still do not know the answer to my question. Hence, I asked.[/nq]
I beg your pardon. It seemed so self evident to me.

It is not a term that merely applies to clothing -but which would include all forms of clothing. It is a more wide ranging term that can include anything put on. Jewelery and armaments, anything that you happen to be carrying might count to.
You can clothe a tree such a x-mass tree with such "apparel" as trimmings and candles. The same applies to some appurtenances that might go on an altar or into/onto temples and shrines.

It is the outer appearance of anything that is "adorned" with any unspecified thing or things.

Usenet · Answer

[nq:2]ap·par·el ( P ) Pronunciation Key (-prl) n. Clothing, ... not know the answer to my question. Hence, I asked.[/nq]
[nq:1]I beg your pardon. It seemed so self evident to me. It is not a term that merely applies to ... into/onto temples and shrines. It is the outer appearance of anything that is "adorned" with any unspecified thing or things.[/nq]
So what if it is self evident to you? You think everyone is like you? You may be smarter but I have better manners than you.

Usenet · Answer

[nq:1]So what if it is self evident to you? You think everyone is like you? You may be smarter but I have better manners than you.[/nq]
But I have a better name than you.
(Clothes maketh man and a name to... ...boot.)

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