bodice

bodice
\ \ [16] Originally, bodice was identical with bodies – that is, the plural of body. This use of body began early in the 16th century, when it referred to the part of a woman’s dress that covered the trunk, as opposed to the arms; and it soon became restricted specifically to the part above the waist. The reason for the adoption of the plural form (which was often used originally in the phrase pair of bodies) was that the upper portion of women’s dresses was usually in two parts, which fastened down the middle. In the 17th and 18th centuries the term bodice was frequently applied to ‘corsets’.
\ \ Cf.BODY

Word origins - 2ed. . 2005.

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Synonyms:
, / (of a dress),


Look at other dictionaries:

  • Bodice — Bod ice, n. [This is properly the plural of body, Oe. bodise a pair of bodies, equiv. to a bodice. Cf. {Corset}, and see {Body}.] 1. A kind of under waist stiffened with whalebone, etc., worn esp. by women; a corset; stays. [1913 Webster] 2. A… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • bodice — 1560s, oddly spelled plural of BODY (Cf. body), name of a tight fitting Elizabethan garment covering the torso; plural because the body came in two parts which fastened in the middle …   Etymology dictionary

  • bodice — ► NOUN 1) the upper front part of a woman s dress. 2) a woman s sleeveless undergarment, often laced at the front. ORIGIN originally bodies, plural of BODY(Cf. ↑body) …   English terms dictionary

  • bodice — [bäd′is] n. [altered < bodies, pl. of BODY, in obs. sense of “part of dress above the waist”] 1. the upper part of a woman s dress 2. a kind of vest formerly worn over a blouse or dress by women or girls, usually laced in front 3. Archaic a… …   English World dictionary

  • Bodice — A bodice is an article of clothing for women, covering the body from the neck to the waist. The term comes from pair of bodies (because the garment was originally made in two pieces that fastened together, frequently by lacing).In common usage,… …   Wikipedia

  • bodice — [16] Originally, bodice was identical with bodies – that is, the plural of body. This use of body began early in the 16th century, when it referred to the part of a woman’s dress that 67 bolt covered the trunk, as opposed to the arms; and it soon …   The Hutchinson dictionary of word origins

  • bodice — [[t]bɒ̱dɪs[/t]] bodices N COUNT The bodice of a dress is the part above the waist. ...a silky green floral cocktail dress with a fitted bodice and circle skirt …   English dictionary

  • bodice — UK [ˈbɒdɪs] / US [ˈbɑdɪs] noun [countable] Word forms bodice : singular bodice plural bodices the part of a dress that covers a woman s body from the waist up …   English dictionary

  • Bodice 104 Cottage — (Липтовский Микулаш,Словакия) Категория отеля: Адрес: Bodice 104, 03101 Липтовский Микул …   Каталог отелей

  • bodice-ripper — [bäd′is rip΄ər] n. a ROMANCE (n. 3) set in the past and having a formulaic plot that features scenes of sexual passion and violent action: also bodice ripper * * * …   Universalium

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