paraphernals

English

Etymology

From Middle French parapharnelz. Attested since the early 1500s, whereas the adjective paraphernal since the late 1700s.

Noun

paraphernals pl (plural only)

1. (law, rare) Synonym of paraphernalia (“married woman’s property besides her dowry”).
   • 1724 June, “Outfit and Tocher of a Farmer’s Daughter, 1724”, in William Hector, compiler, Selections from the Judicial Records of Renfrewshire. Illustrative of the Administration of the Laws in the County, and Manners and Condition of the Inhabitants, in the Seventeenth and Eighteenth Centuries. […], Paisley, Renfrewshire: J. & J. Cook, […], published 1878, page 185:

     […] the said John Lindsay became obliged to restore all things he got with his wife or she brought with her to the said Allexander Cochrane, her father, and the other pursuers, her brethren, and to put everything in the same condition as it was before the marriage, and she haven taken with her the goods and gear following, viz., her Paraphernals and body cloathes, linens, and others, to the value of three hundredth merks Scots: […]

   • 1839, “The Siege of Perth”, in Wilson’s Historical, Traditionary, and Imaginative Tales of the Borders, and of Scotland: […], volume V, number 209, London: E. T. Brain & Co., […]; New York, N.Y.: R. T. Shannon, →OCLC, page 5, column 2:

     “[…] Get ready thy marriage gear, love, and lay aside thy maiden blushes, which can aid thee as little in capturing a husband as Bruce’s backwardness in the taking of Perth.” / “The Governor hath not claimed me, father,” replied Anne, hesitatingly. “He hath not called here since the money was paid to him.” / “More still of thy doubtful questionings, wench!” cried Peter, rising in his anger. “What is his remissness to thee, if I adhere to my condition, and demand my bond? He is bound by his honour; to-morrow he is to be here, and thou must show thy fairest qualities in his presence. Go and assign thee thy appurtenances and paraphernals.”

   • 1901, Ocie Speer, “Index”, in A Treatise on the Law of Married Women in Texas, Including Marriage, Divorce, Homestead, and Administration, Rochester, N.Y.: The Lawyers’ Co-operative Publishing Company, →OCLC, page 499:

     ASSENT. / of husband to wife’s acts as agent or trustee, § 32. / of husband not necessary to wife’s contracts, when, §§ 45, 49. / to wife’s alienation of her paraphernals, § 94.