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A livery is a uniform worn by a civilian person. In 1300s, "livery" referred to an allowance of any kind (for instance the city of Exeter in Devon, England has a street called "Livery Dole" after the Livery Dole Almshouses and Chapel, founded in March 1591), but especially clothes delivered (French livrée) to servants and members of the household. Such things might be kept in a "livery cupboard." The sense later contracted to servants' rations and distinctive standardized outfits, like the knee-breeches worn by footmen in grand houses until World War I, and to provender for horses, from which we have inherited "livery stable" (1705) *.
From this core meaning, multiple extended or specialist meanings have derived. Examples include:
A livery company is one of the most ancient guilds of the City of London; members of the company were allowed to dress their servants in the distinctive uniform of their trade, and the company's charters enabled them to prevent others from embarking upon the trades within the company's jurisdiction. In Paris, similar institutions, called Corporations were swept away by the Revolution.
A livery is the specific paint scheme and sticker design used in motorsport, on vehicles, in order to attract sponsorship and to advertise sponsors.
A "livery vehicle" remains a legalism in the U.S. for a vehicle for hire, such as a taxicab or chauffered limousine, but excluding a rented vehicle driven by the renter. In some jurisdictions a "livery vehicle" covers vehicles that carry up to seven passengers, but not more, thus including a jitney but excluding an omnibus or motorcoach. This usage stems from the hackney cabs or coaches that could be provided by a "livery stable."
The term is rarely if ever applied in a military context, so it would be unusual for "livery" to refer to a military uniform or the painting of a military vehicle.
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