\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.

\Liv"er*y\, v. t.
To clothe in, or as in, livery. --Shak.