Definition of "Corinthian"

The silver waters of the spring had long since disappeared, but there still were left a few of the Corinthian pillars, some stretched on the ground and overgrown with creeping-plants, while two or three yet remained erect, and showed how graceful the whole must have been.

1834, L[etitia] E[lizabeth] L[andon], chapter II, in Francesca Carrara. […], volume I, London: Richard Bentley, […], (successor to Henry Colburn), page 21

The examples of the concave family in the Byzantine times are found principally either in large capitals founded on the Greek Corinthian, used chiefly for the nave pillars of churches, or in the small lateral shafts of the palaces.

1853, John Ruskin, “V, Byzantine Palaces”, in The Stones of Venice, volume II (The Sea-Stories), London: Smith, Elder, and Co., […], § XV, page 130

all her young Corinthian laity

1642 April, John Milton, An Apology for Smectymnuus; republished in A Complete Collection of the Historical, Political, and Miscellaneous Works of John Milton, […], Amsterdam [actually London: s.n.], 1698

Corinthian Stakes of 10 Guineas ... To be rode by Gentlemen.

1825 June 16, “Curragh June Meeting, 1825”, in Dublin Evening Post‎, Dublin, page 4

It was a condition of the race, that the horses should be ridden by gentlemen ... [I]t was submitted, that if none were to be reputed in the rank of gentlemen, whose wives had not been visited by Lady Clanricarde, the notion of a Corinthian Race might as well be given up at once, within twenty miles all round Portumna castle. It would amount, in fact, to a disgentilizing of two or three counties.

1844 July 1, “What Is A Gentleman?”, in Tait's Edinburgh Magazine‎, volume xi, Edinburgh: William Tait, page 417

[W]e have horse races ... whereat the aforesaid noble animals are ridden by gentlemen, and if I err not are named "Corinthian."

1853 January 30, "The Man In The Mask", “The Regattas of 1853”, in Bell's Life in London and Sporting Chronicle‎, London, page 6

In Corinthian matches the yachts are steered and manned by gentlemen alone,

1856 October 1, “Royal Northern Yacht Club Regatta”, in Hunt's Yachting Magazine‎, volume 5, London: Hunt, page 427