What is "fashion piece"

Fashion \Fash"ion\, n. [OE. fasoun, facioun, shape, manner, F. facon, orig., a making, fr. L. factio a making, fr. facere to make. See Fact, Feat, and cf. Faction.]

1. The make or form of anything; the style, shape, appearance, or mode of structure; pattern, model; as, the fashion of the ark, of a coat, of a house, of an altar, etc.; workmanship; execution.

   The fashion of his countenance was altered.
   --Luke ix. 29.

   I do not like the fashion of your garments.
   --Shak.

2. The prevailing mode or style, especially of dress; custom or conventional usage in respect of dress, behavior, etiquette, etc.; particularly, the mode or style usual among persons of good breeding; as, to dress, dance, sing, ride, etc., in the fashion.

   The innocent diversions in fashion.
   --Locke.

   As now existing, fashion is a form of social regulation analogous to constitutional government as a form of political regulation.
   --H. Spencer.

3. Polite, fashionable, or genteel life; social position; good breeding; as, men of fashion.

4. Mode of action; method of conduct; manner; custom; sort; way. ``After his sour fashion.''
   --Shak.

   After a fashion, to a certain extent; of a sort; sort of.

   Fashion piece (Naut.), one of the timbers which terminate the transom, and define the shape of the stern.

   Fashion plate, a pictorial design showing the prevailing style or a new style of dress.

n. (context nautical English) One of the timbers which terminate the transom and define the shape of the stern.