Robe

n. [Fr. robe, Pr. rauba, It. & O. Sp. roba, N. Sp. ropa, O. Pg. rouba, N. Pg. roupa, L. Lat. rauba; raupa, a gown, dress, garment, orig. booty, plunder, hence Sp. robo, Pg. roubo, It. ruba, robbery, theft, rapine, stolen goods, O. H. Ger. roub, N. H. Ger. raub, O. Sax. rôbh, L. Ger. & D. rôf, A-S. reáf, O. Fries. ráf, Sw. róf, Dan. rôv, Icel. rauf. See Rob, v. t.]

1Sense 1. An outer garment for man or woman; a dress; a gown; especially, one of a rich, flowing, or elegant style or make; hence, a dress of state, rank, office, and the like.

Through tattered clothes small vices do appear; Robes and furred gowns hide all. Shak.

2Sense 2. A skin of the wolf, buffalo, &c., dressed and prepared for use. [U. S.] Bartlett.

Master of the robes, an officer of the royal household, whose duty consists in ordering the sovereign’s robes.—Mistress of the robes, a lady who enjoys the highest rank of the ladies in the service of the queen, and has the care of her robes. Wright.—Robe-de-chambre. [Fr., literally, a chamber-gown.] A dressing-gown, or morning-gown.

v. t. [imp. & p. p. ROBED; p. pr. & vb. n. ROBING.] To invest with a robe; to dress; to array; as, fields robed with green.

Such was his power over the expression of his countenance, that he could in an instant shake off the sternness of winter, and robe it in the brightest smiles of spring. Wirt.