/ ˈlɪvəri; NAmE / noun [ U , C ] ( pl. -ies )
1.
( BrE ) the colours in which the vehicles, aircraft, etc. of a particular company are painted
2.
a special uniform worn by servants or officials, especially in the past
••
WORD ORIGIN
Middle English : from Old French livree delivered, feminine past participle of livrer , from Latin liberare liberate (in medieval Latin hand over). The original sense was the dispensing of food, provisions, or clothing to servants ; also allowance of fodder for horses , surviving in the phrase at livery and in livery stable . The current senses arose because medieval nobles provided matching clothes to distinguish their servants from others'.