corset
UK: ˈkɔːsɪt | US: ˈkɔːrsɪt
n. a tightly fitting undergarment worn to shape or support the torso, historically made with stiffening materials like whalebone.
n. (figuratively) anything that restricts or confines like a corset.
The word "corset" originates from Old French corset, a diminutive of cors (meaning "body"), derived from Latin corpus (body). The suffix -et denotes a smaller or more delicate version, implying a garment closely fitted to the body. Initially used in the 14th century for a type of bodice, the term evolved to describe the restrictive undergarment by the 19th century, reflecting both its physical function and societal symbolism of constraint.
She laced her corset tightly to achieve the fashionable silhouette of the Victorian era.
Modern fashion designers sometimes reinterpret the corset as a symbol of empowerment.
The novel describes the protagonist struggling to breathe in her restrictive corset.
Corsets were often reinforced with whalebone or steel to maintain their shape.
Critics argue that the corset represents historical oppression of women’s bodies.