A negligée was a loose gown or sacque open in front, to be worn over
a handsome petticoat; and in spite of its name, was not only in high
fashion for many years, but was worn for full dress. Abigail Adams,
writing to Mrs. Storer, on January 20, 1785, says: "Trimming is
reserved for full dress only, when very large hoops and negligées
with trains three yards long are worn." I find advertised in the
_Boston Evening Post_, as early as November, 1755: "Horse-hair
Quilted Coats to wear with Negligees." A poem printed in New York in
1756 has these lines:--
"Put on her a Shepherdee
A Short Sack or Negligee
Ruffled high to keep her warm
Eight or ten about an arm."