Sumptuary Laws
Preserved but no longer current.
Laws to limit the expenses of food and dress, or any luxury. The Romans had their leges sumptuarii, and they have been enacted in many states at various times. Those of England were all repealed by 1 James I. c. 25; but during the two World Wars, with the rationing of food, coals, etc., and the compulsory lowering of the strength of beer and whisky we had a temporary return to sumptuary legislation.
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 “Sumptuary Laws” mean?
Laws to limit the expenses of food and dress, or any luxury. The Romans had their leges sumptuarii, and they have been enacted in many states at various times. Those of England were all repealed by 1 James I. c. 25; but during the two World Wars, with the rationing of food, coals, etc., and the compulsory lowering of the strength of beer and whisky we had a temporary return to sumptuary legislation.
Is “Sumptuary Laws” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.