A cylindrical or oval box made of pasteboard, used for storing and carrying collars, hats, or other delicate clothing.
From band (a strip or binding) plus box. Bandboxes date to the 16th century and were used for millinery goods and fine clothing. The exact origin of 'band' here is debated but may refer to the hat bands stored inside.
Bandboxes were so important to Victorian fashion that people would specially order ornate, decorated boxes as status symbols — a fancy bandbox meant you could afford expensive hats and formal wear!
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