What is "undress parade"

Undress \Un"dress\, n.

1. A loose, negligent dress; ordinary dress, as distinguished from full dress.

2. (Mil. & Naval) An authorized habitual dress of officers and soldiers, but not full-dress uniform.

   Undress parade (Mil.), a substitute for dress parade, allowed in bad weather, the companies forming without arms, and the ceremony being shortened.

Parade \Pa*rade"\, n. [F., fr. Sp. parada a halt or stopping, an assembling for exercise, a place where troops are assembled to exercise, fr. parar to stop, to prepare. See Pare, v. t.]

1. The ground where a military display is held, or where troops are drilled. Also called parade ground.

2. (Mil.) An assembly and orderly arrangement or display of troops, in full equipments, for inspection or evolutions before some superior officer; a review of troops. Parades are general, regimental, or private (troop, battery, or company), according to the force assembled.

3. Hence: Any imposing procession; the movement of any group of people marshaled in military order, especially a festive public procession, which may include a marching band, persons in varied costume, vehicles with elaborate displays, and other forms of entertainment, held in commemoration or celebration of an event or in honor of a person or persons; as, a parade of firemen; a Thanksgiving Day parade; a Memorial Day parade; a ticker-tape parade.

   In state returned the grand parade.
   --Swift.

4. Hence: A pompous show; a formal or ostentatious display or exhibition.

   Be rich, but of your wealth make no parade.
   --Swift.

5. Posture of defense; guard. [A Gallicism.]

   When they are not in parade, and upon their guard.
   --Locke.

6. A public walk; a promenade.

   Dress parade, Undress parade. See under Dress, and Undress.

   Parade rest, a position of rest for soldiers, in which, however, they are required to be silent and motionless.
   --Wilhelm.

   Syn: Ostentation; display; show.

   Usage: Parade, Ostentation. Parade is a pompous exhibition of things for the purpose of display; ostentation now generally indicates a parade of virtues or other qualities for which one expects to be honored. ``It was not in the mere parade of royalty that the Mexican potentates exhibited their power.''
   --Robertson. ``We are dazzled with the splendor of titles, the ostentation of learning, and the noise of victories.''
   --Spectator.

n. (context military English) A substitute for dress parade in bad weather, the companies forming without arms, and the ceremony being shortened.