ENGLISH
REFERENCE

delia

n. countable
C2 Proficiency US //ˈdiɫjə// delia Archaic

n. a long, loose coat with wide sleeves that men used to wear in Poland and Lithuania. It was often worn over a long robe and tied with a belt.

n. a traditional outer garment worn by male nobility in the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, typically featuring wide sleeves and a front closure. Often worn over a kontusz and secured with a decorative sash.


SIMPLE

The nobleman wore a silk delia for the ceremony.

CONTEXTUAL

Historical paintings of the Polish gentry frequently depict men in a delia, often lined with fur for winter warmth.

COMPLEX

The museum's textile collection includes a remarkably preserved seventeenth-century delia, showcasing the intricate embroidery and heavy velvet typical of the period's aristocratic fashion.

Origin

From the Ancient Greek Δήλῐᾰ (Dḗlĭă), epithet of the goddess Artemis, referring to her birth on the island of Delos.

Usage

Primarily used in historical or literary contexts regarding Eastern European history.

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