unbonnet

English edit

Etymology edit

Verb edit

unbonnet (third-person singular simple present unbonnets, present participle unbonneting or unbonnetting, simple past and past participle unbonneted or unbonnetted)

(transitive) To remove a bonnet from.
- 1827, “A Christmas Party”, in The Atheneum; or, Spirit of the English Magazines, volume VII, second series, Boston: John Cotton, page 73:
  Jacob received them with much gallantry, uncloaking and unbonnetting the ladies, assisted by his two staring and awkward auxiliaries, welcoming their husbands and fathers, and apologizing, as best he might, for the absence of his helpmate;
- 1829 May 2, [Walter Scott], Anne of Geierstein; or, The Maiden of the Mist. […], volumes (please specify |volume=I to III), Edinburgh: […] [Ballantyne and Company] for Cadell and Co., […]; London: Simpkin and Marshall, […], →OCLC:
  "Do nothing but rise, unbonnet yourself, and be silent"
(intransitive) To take off one's bonnet.
- 1830, [Mary Shelley], chapter VII, in The Fortunes of Perkin Warbeck, […], volume II, London: Henry Colburn and Richard Bentley, […], →OCLC, page 115:
  He cast his penetrating glance around, and then unbonneting to the Duke, he said respectfully, […]
  The 1857 edition uses unbonnetting.
- 1877, Jeannie H. Grey, Flirtation, Or, Cupid's Shoulder-strap Tactics: A West Point Love Story:
  Mrs. Bobaline looked curiously at the shrinking girl, as she unbonneted, and was secretly pleased to see only a meek little face […]
- 1881, Annie Raine Ellis, chapter XXIII, in Sylvestra, Studies of Manners in England from 1770 to 1800, volume II, London: George Bell and Sons, page 15:
  Unbonnetting before their betters might be more pleasant than having greatness thrust upon them;

References edit

“unbonnet”, in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: G. & C. Merriam, 1913, →OCLC.