A gown worn by Victorian women for dinners and parties held in people's homes. It often had long sleeves, a high neck, or a narrow skirt to set it apart from an evening gown.
The most formal kind of eveningwear for men, consisting of an evening tailcoat, trousers with strips of braid down the side seams, white stiff-fronted shirt, white bow tie and waistcoat with or without sash.
A dress code specifying white tie for men and ball gown or evening dress for women, or, alternatively, full military dress or national costume.