pillowbeer
English edit
Etymology edit
From earlier pillowbere, from pillow + bear (“pillowcase”), from Middle English bēre (“pillowcase”), from Old English *bera (as in Old English hlēorbera (“cheek-cover”)), of obscure and uncertain origin.
Pronunciation edit
Noun edit
pillowbeer (plural pillowbeers)
- (now Northern England, US regional) A pillowcase.
- 1599, Joseph Hall, Virgidemiarum: The three last bookes : Of byting Satyres, page 85:
- When Zoylus was sicke, he knew not where / Saue his wrought night cap, and laune Pillow-bere:
- 1635, Simon Birckbek, The Protestants Evidence, taken out of good records, page 64:
- Ne was there such another Pardoner, For in his male had he a pillowbere, Which as he sayd was our Ladyes vayle.
- 1749, Henry Fielding, Tom Jones, Folio Society, published 1973, page 337:
- she had so well covered herself with a pillowbeer which she there found, that her regard to decency was not in the least violated by the presence of so many men as were now in the room.