Definition

Noun: A stiff, upright collar, often made of lace or linen and supported by wires or starch, that was fashionable in the 17th century. It is characterized by its intricate, decorative design and its role as a prominent garment accessory.

Usage

The word "rabato" is a historical term used specifically in the context of fashion history. It refers to a distinct type of collar from a particular era. * It is used as a countable noun (e.g., a rabato, several rabatos). * It is typically found in academic writing, historical descriptions, or costume design discussions related to the 1600s.

Examples

• The portrait showed the nobleman wearing an elaborate rabato of fine Flemish lace.
• Costume designers for the period drama carefully recreated the wired rabato for the lead actor's outfit.
• In her research on 17th-century attire, she studied the evolution of the rabato from a simple ruff to a more structured collar.

Advanced Usage

• The term is highly specific and is not used in modern fashion contexts. Its use implies a scholarly or accurate historical reference.
• It can sometimes be used interchangeably with or in relation to terms like "ruff" or "rebato," though subtle distinctions in shape and structure may exist.

Variants and Related Words

• Rebato: An alternative spelling for the same item.
• Ruff: A broader term for a pleated, stiffened collar worn from the 16th into the 17th century; a rabato is considered a type or later evolution of the ruff.
• Whisk: Another style of stiffened, fan-shaped linen collar worn during a similar period.

Synonyms

• Collar (specifically, a , , or when describing its material and form in a historical sense).

Antonyms

• There is no direct antonym, as it is a specific object. In a general sense, modern collar styles (e.g., , ) are functionally and stylistically opposite.

Notes on Different Meanings

"Rabato" has only one primary meaning as a historical garment. It does not have modern, figurative, or alternative definitions.

Noun

1. a wired or starched collar of intricate lace; worn in 17th century