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Glite Dictionary
partlet

partlet

9.9
A small decorative cloth that covers a woman's neck and shoulders
  • noun
  • Archaic
translation icon : partlet
  • In the 17th century, noblewomen often wore a partlet to enhance their elegant attire.

Examples

  • The partlet was made of delicate lace.

  • During the Renaissance, women often wore a partlet to add elegance to their gowns.

  • The queen's portrait features a delicate lace partlet draped over her shoulders.

  • A finely embroidered partlet was a sign of wealth in 16th-century England.

  • She wore a beautiful partlet with her gown.

  • The actress donned a beautifully embroidered partlet for her role in the historical play.

  • During the costume fitting, she selected a delicate partlet that complemented her gown perfectly.

Synonyms

collar
vspartlet
121 1.0

A band of material around the neck of a shirt, coat, dress, or shoe

is broader, covering both neck and the shoulders rather than only the neck
tucker
vspartlet
  • Archaic
1 9.9

A small cloth worn over the front of a low-cut dress to cover the chest

is worn at the neck and shoulders rather than mainly over the chest
bertha
vspartlet
  • Archaic
9.9

A wide round collar on a woman's dress that lies over the shoulders

is a smaller neck and shoulder covering used earlier in history
capelet
vspartlet
8.8

A small cape that covers the shoulders and is worn over a dress

is a fitted neck and shoulder covering rather than a cape
victorine
vspartlet
  • Archaic
9.9

A short fur cape worn around the shoulders, popular in the 19th century

is an earlier small fabric neck and shoulder covering, not fur
collarette
vspartlet
9.1

A short ribbon worn around the neck to hold a medal

is a garment piece that covers neck and shoulders rather than a medal band

Surface Forms

partlet singular
partlets plural

Morphology

partlet = part (opaque) = part + let

Although formed from 'part' + diminutive '-let', the meaning 'small collar' is not inferable by typical learners from 'part' alone.

Etymology

Partlet comes from the word part plus the small ending -let, so it literally means a 'small part'. A helpful way to remember it is to think of a little piece of cloth that fits over the neck and shoulders, which is why a partlet was a small collar worn in the 16th and 17th centuries.