miniver

• meniver, menyvere

From Old French menu vair (“squirrel, squirrel fur”), from menu (“small”) + vair (“a type of fur”).^[1]

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ˈmɪnɪvə/

  • Audio (Southern England):

    (file)

• (US) IPA^(key): /ˈmɪnɪvɚ/

miniver (countable and uncountable, plural minivers)

1. A light gray or white fur used to trim the robes of judges or state executives, also used in medieval times.
   • 1485, Sir Thomas Malory, “j”, in Le Morte Darthur, book XII:

     Thenne came forth a lykely knyghte and wel apparaylled in scarlet furred with myneuer / And anone as he sawe syr launcelot / he demed that he shold be oute of his wytte / And thenne he said with fayre speche good man leye doune that swerd / for as me semeth / thow haddest more nede of slepe and of warme clothes / than to welde that swerd / As for that said syr Launcelot come not to nyȝ for and thow doo wete thou wel I will slee the

     (please add an English translation of this quotation)

• “miniver”, in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: G. & C. Merriam, 1913, →OCLC.