witzchoura

plural witzchouras · alternative witchoura · alternative witz-choura

1. historicalA woman's fur-lined cloak, mantle, or pelisse with large sleeves, worn during the early 19th century.

   Velvet "toques" were in favour; likewise velvet "witchouras," chinchilla muffs, bodices draped "à la Sévigné;" […]

   1882, Augustin Challamel, “Reign of Louis XVIII. and Charles X. 1815 to 1830.”, in Mrs. Cashel Hoey, John Lillie, transl., The History of Fashion in France; or, The Dress of Women from the Gallo-Roman Period to the Present Time. […], London: Sampson Low, Marston, Searle, & Rivington, […], →OCLC, page 202

   5 more examples

   THE GREATEST NOVELTY IN DRESS FOR THE PRESENT PERIOD, is the ENGLISH WITZCHOURA, being the most indispensible^([sic]) appendage to Dress that can be conceived. It protects the wearer from the inclemencies of the weather—prevents dress from being deranged—and forms a most elegant and useful exterior covering for Evening Parties, the Theatre, Walking, or Riding. Its make is perfectly unique. A Chapeau Bras is attached to the Witzchoura, made in a very novel manner.

   1817 January 1, “The Universal Advertising Sheet in La Belle Assemblee”, in La Belle Assemblée; being Bell’s Court and Fashionable Magazine (New and Improved Series), volume XIV, number 91, London: […] John Bell, […], →OCLC, page 41, column 1

   "I'll just wrap myself up, and be ready in an instant; that old yellow witzchoura," pointing to one that lay on a chair close by Mrs. Brayforth, "is all I shall put on," she was going to add; but that old lady screamed aloud, "'Old yellow witch houra!' call me an old witch indeed![…]"

   1821, chapter X, in Scheming; […], volume III, London: Henry Colburn and Co., […], →OCLC, pages 160–161

   The loose Polonese sleeve, lined and trimmed with fur, was worn with Witzchouras: the sleeve underneath fitted close to the arm.

   1826, “A Summary of the Fashions for the Last Six Months”, in Supplement to La Belle Assemblée, or Court and Fashionable Magazine (New Series), volume IV, London: Geo[rge] B[yrom] Whittaker, […]; Edinburgh: Oliver and Boyd, →OCLC, page 315

   This [the carriage dress], with some becoming alterations, is the Witzchoura-pelisse; and that which we have the pleasure of presenting a fac-simile of to our readers, is of light lavender satin, with a very broad border of ermine.

   1828 December 31, “Fashions. Description of the Engravings.”, in The Lady’s Magazine; or, Mirror of the Belles-lettres, Fine Arts, Music, Drama, Fashions, &c., volume IX (New Series), London: […] John Merriman, […], →OCLC, page 666

   Mantles are still predominant in carriage dress, and a few witchouras have been introduced. This is a revived fashion, and, we believe, was originally a Russian one. The witchoura is a very ample mantle, made with a very deep collar, and cape, and long, loose sleeves. The mantle and sleeves are lined with fur, and if that is of a very expensive kind, the collar and cape are composed of it; but if not, velvet, or the material of the cloak, is employed for them.

   1833, “The Ladies’ Toilet”, in The Ladies’ Pocket Magazine, part 1, London: Joseph Robins […], →OCLC, page 38