Blount thinks, and
apparently with justice, that
Piccadilly
took its name from the sale
of the "small stiff collars, so called", which was first set on foot
in a house near the western extremity of the present street, by one
Higgins, a tailor.
=2. 2. 123 Picardill.= Cotgrave gives: 'Piccadilles: Piccadilles;
the severall divisions or peeces fastened together about the brimme
of the collar of a doublet, &c.' Gifford says: 'With respect to the
_Piccadil_, or, as Jonson writes it, Picardil, (as if he supposed the
fashion of wearing it be derived from Picardy,) the term is simply a
diminutive of picca (Span. and Ital.) a spear-head, and was given to
this article of foppery, from a fancied resemblance of its stiffened
plaits to the bristled points of those weapons.
Blount thinks, and
apparently with justice, that
Piccadilly
took its name from the sale
of the "small stiff collars, so called", which was first set on foot
in a house near the western extremity of the present street, by one
Higgins, a tailor.
'
As Gifford points out, 'Pug is affecting modesty, since he had
not only assumed a handsome body, but a fashionable dress, "made
new" for a particular occasion.' See 5. 1. 35, 36.
Jonson mentions the _Picardill_ again in the _Challenge at
Tilt_, _Wks._ 7. 217, and in the _Epistle to a Friend_,
_Wks._ 8. 356. For other examples see Nares, _Gloss_.
=2. 2. 127 f. your fine Monkey=; etc. These are all common
terms of endearment.
