>Thought I had heard this somewhere - > >BOA: > >A pillow which is made especially for placing around one's neck I think? no - a pillow bere was a pillow case, generally listed with the linen. > My >Gran and my Mother had one. such luxuries were unknown to our ancestors. > >Chambers defines it as: " A long, serpent-like coil of fur or feathers worn >around the neck by women as well as the description applied to a snake." That is a feather BOA, not a pillow bere at all. It was a fashion item, to decorate a plain neckline or bodice -- Eve McLaughlin Author of the McLaughlin Guides for family historians Secretary Bucks Genealogical Society

But Roy makes such good jokes, don't you think? Audrey ----- Original Message ----- From: "Eve McLaughlin" <eve@varneys.demon.co.uk> To: <OLD-ENGLISH-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Monday, June 21, 2004 11:58 PM Subject: Re: FW: [OEL] pillow Boa_s / bers and whome made > > >Thought I had heard this somewhere - > > > >BOA: > > > >A pillow which is made especially for placing around one's neck I think? > > no - a pillow bere was a pillow case, generally listed with the linen. > > My > >Gran and my Mother had one. > such luxuries were unknown to our ancestors. > > > >Chambers defines it as: " A long, serpent-like coil of fur or feathers worn > >around the neck by women as well as the description applied to a snake." > That is a feather BOA, not a pillow bere at all. It was a fashion > item, to decorate a plain neckline or bodice > > -- > Eve McLaughlin > > Author of the McLaughlin Guides for family historians > Secretary Bucks Genealogical Society > > > ==== OLD-ENGLISH Mailing List ==== > SEARCHABLE archives for OLD-ENGLISH: > http://listsearches.rootsweb.com/cgi-bin/listsearch.pl?list=OLD-ENGLISH > >