Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Livery \Liv"er*y\, n.; pl. {Liveries}. [OE. livere, F.
   livr['e]e, formerly, a gift of clothes made by the master to
   his servants, prop., a thing delivered, fr. livrer to
   deliver, L. liberare to set free, in LL., to deliver up. See
   {Liberate}.]
   1. (Eng. Law)
      (a) The act of delivering possession of lands or
          tenements.
      (b) The writ by which possession is obtained.

   Note: It is usual to say, livery of seizin, which is a feudal
         investiture, made by the delivery of a turf, of a rod,
         or twig, from the feoffor to the feoffee. In the United
         States, and now in Great Britain, no such ceremony is
         necessary, the delivery of a deed being sufficient.

   2. Release from wardship; deliverance.

            It concerned them first to sue out their livery from
            the unjust wardship of his encroaching prerogative.
                                                  --Milton.

   3. That which is delivered out statedly or formally, as
      clothing, food, etc.; especially:
      (a) The uniform clothing issued by feudal superiors to
          their retainers and serving as a badge when in
          military service.
      (b) The peculiar dress by which the servants of a nobleman
          or gentleman are distinguished; as, a claret-colored
          livery.
      (c) Hence, also, the peculiar dress or garb appropriated
          by any association or body of persons to their own
          use; as, the livery of the London tradesmen, of a
          priest, of a charity school, etc.; also, the whole
          body or company of persons wearing such a garb, and
          entitled to the privileges of the association; as, the
          whole livery of London.

                A Haberdasher and a Carpenter, A Webbe, a Dyer,
                and a Tapicer, And they were clothed all in one
                livery Of a solempne and a gret fraternite.
                                                  --Chaucer.

                From the periodical deliveries of these
                characteristic articles of servile costume (blue
                coats) came our word livery.      --De Quincey.
      (d) Hence, any characteristic dress or outward appearance.
          `` April's livery.'' --Sir P. Sidney.

                Now came still evening on, and twilight gray Had
                in her sober livery all things clad. --Milton.
      (e) An allowance of food statedly given out; a ration, as
          to a family, to servants, to horses, etc.

                The emperor's officers every night went through
                the town from house to house whereat any English
                gentleman did repast or lodge, and served their
                liveries for all night: first, the officers
                brought into the house a cast of fine manchet
                [white bread], and of silver two great post, and
                white wine, and sugar.            --Cavendish.
      (f) The feeding, stabling, and care of horses for
          compensation; boarding; as, to keep one's horses at
          livery.

                What livery is, we by common use in England know
                well enough, namely, that is, allowance of horse
                meat, as to keep horses at livery, the which
                word, I guess, is derived of livering or
                delivering forth their nightly food. --Spenser.

                It need hardly be observed that the explanation
                of livery which Spenser offers is perfectly
                correct, but . . . it is no longer applied to
                the ration or stated portion of food delivered
                at stated periods.                --Trench.
      (g) The keeping of horses in readiness to be hired
          temporarily for riding or driving; the state of being
          so kept.

                Pegasus does not stand at livery even at the
                largest establishment in Moorfields. --Lowell.

   4. A low grade of wool.

   {Livery gown}, the gown worn by a liveryman in London.