cheval glass
Preserved but no longer current.
Meaning · English
A large, swinging mirror, long enough to reflect the whole of the figure; so called from the "horse," or framework, which supports it.
Era: ca. 1898 (Victorian)
Sources & notes
Reproduced from Brewer’s Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (1898 edition, public domain; archive.org, retrieved 2026-07-31; OCR text, minor errors possible). Reflects the scholarship and attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “cheval glass” mean?
A large, swinging mirror, long enough to reflect the whole of the figure; so called from the "horse," or framework, which supports it.
Is “cheval glass” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.