Face screen - Fancy dress

Face screen

[face screens]

A contemporary term for an adjustable FIRE SCREEN on a pole with tripod feet. It was designed to protect the face from the heat of the fire [Gloag (1952, revised 1991)].

Not found in the OED

See also POLE SCREEN.
Sources: Tradecards.
References: Gloag (1952, revised 1991).

Fadge flax

[ffage fflax]

Presumably, the term refers to FLAX that has been packed securely in a FADGE for easy handling. Such flax was probably imported. It has been noted in the inventory of a ROPE maker in Newcastle upon Tyne [Inventories (1670)].

It appears to have been common in trade terminology to combine the unit of packing and/or the unit of measure with the name of the commodity, to specify a particular type or quality, as for instance in BUNDLE FLAX, KIRTLE FLAX, etc.

Not found in the OED

Found in units of C, LB, QUARTER

See also BUNDLE FLAX, FADGE, KIRTLE FLAX, LOOSE FLAX.
Sources: Inventories (mid-period), Inventories (late).

Falling band

[fallinge bande; fallinge band; fallen band; falinge bonde]

A neck tie or neck BAND formed so as to fall flat on the dress, it was also called a Vandyke. It could be with or without LACE and was much worn in the seventeenth century, succeeding the stiff ruff. It was larger than the usual band [Lloyd (1895)].

'3 Falling bands' costed at 15d were included among what was deemed in one list as the essential APPAREL for a man emigrating to the Americas in the 1670s [Diaries (Josselyn)].

OED earliest date of use: 1591

Found described as LACEd, without LACE, OLD

Sources: Diaries, Inventories (early).
References: Lloyd (1895).

Falling stuff

Falling stuff seems to have been a form of stuffing used in UPHOLSTERY. It has been noted only twice, both times among FEATHERS and FLOCKS and in a bag valued in all at 10s. In both cases falling stuff was also associated with BLACK STUFF [Inventories (1544)]; [Inventories (1719)].

Not found in the OED

Found in units of BAG

See also BLACK STUFF.
Sources: Inventories (early), Inventories (late).

Fan stick

[fan-stick]

Since a set was required, they were usually found in the plural. The thin pieces of IVORY, BONE or other material upon which the folding material of a FAN is mounted, sometimes abbreviated to 'stick'. Because they were fragile a small service industry grew up to mend them, like the grocer who sold 'all Sorts of Fans and new Mounts' and mended the Sticks 'when broke after the most neat and fashionable Manner' [Newspapers (1751)].

OED earliest date of use: 1701 as a fan with sticks

Found made of HORN

Sources: Houghton, Newspapers.

Fancy dress

[fancy ball dresse]

A costume of disguise fashioned for someone, usually a young woman, so that she could represent a fictitious or historical character. Fancy dress balls became popular in the eighteenth century, and dresses appropriate for them were for sale in the shops of fashionable milliners, for example [Tradecards (19c.)], as well as being made at home.

OED online earliest date of use: 1770 under Fancy dress

See also MASQUERADE DRESS.
Sources: Tradecards.