Emily Dickinson Lexicon

LIV'ER-Y, n. [Norm. from Fr. livrer, to deliver.]

1. The act of delivering possession of lands or tenements; a term of English law. It is usual to say, livery of seisin, which is a feudal investiture, made by the delivery of a turf, of a rod or twig, from the feoffor to the feoffee. In America, no such ceremony is necessary to a conveyance of real estate, the delivery of a deed being sufficient.
2. Release from wardship; deliverance. – King Charles.
3. The writ by which possession is obtained. – Johnson.
4. The state of being kept at a certain rate; as, to keep horses at livery. – Spenser.
5. A form of dress by which noblemen and gentlemen distinguish their servants. The Romish church has also liveries for confessors, virgins, apostles, martyrs, penitents, &c. Hence,
6. A particular dress or garb, appropriate or peculiar to particular times or things; as, the livery of May; the livery of autumn. Now came still evening on, and twilight gray / Had in her sober livery all things clad. – Milton.
7. The whole body of liverymen in London.