English Explanatory Dictionary

bodice

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. A corset-like sleeveless overgarment for women, sometimes provided with detachable sleeves.
  2. A blouse; any shirt for women, particularly the upper part of a two-piece dress or similar European folk costume.
  3. The upper portion of a women's one-piece dress, equivalent to a shirt, sometimes specifically excluding the sleeves.
  4. An underbodice: an undershirt for women.
  5. Particularly a corset or other undershirt stiffened with whalebone.

Pronunciation

/ˈbɒdɪs/ /ˈbɑdɪs/ LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vininn126-bodice.wav

Word forms

bodice bodices boddice

Etymology

From bodies, plural of body (“upper part of a dress”).

Derived words

bodiced bodice ripper bodice-rippery bodice ripping liberty bodice overbodice Watteau bodice
This entry uses open data from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA/GFDL). Word forms are used for search and are not indexed as separate pages.
Back to search All on B Russian dictionary Dahl dictionary