LIVERY

n. (pl. -ies) 1 a distinctive clothing worn by a member of a City Company or by a servant. b membership of a City livery company. 2 a distinctive guise or marking or outward appearance (birds in their winter livery). 3 a distinctive colour scheme in which the vehicles, aircraft, etc., of a particular company or line are painted. 4 US a place where horses can be hired. 5 hist. a provision of food or clothing for retainers etc. 6 Law a the legal delivery of property. b a writ allowing this. øat livery (of a horse) kept for the owner and fed and groomed for a fixed charge. livery company Brit. one of the London City Companies that formerly had a distinctive costume. livery stable a stable where horses are kept at livery or let out for hire. øøliveried adj. (esp. in senses 1, 2). [ME f. AF liver÷, OF livr÷e, fem. past part. of livrer DELIVER]