corselet

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English

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Alternative forms

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Etymology

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From French corselet, from cors, an archaic spelling of corps (body).

Pronunciation

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Noun

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corselet (plural corselets)

  1. Armor for the body, for example a breastplate and backpiece taken together.
  2. An entire suit of armor, made up chiefly of the breastplate and backpiece worn with a headpiece and with a gorget, pauldrons, vambraces, gauntlets, and tassets attached.
    • 1786, Francis Grose, A Treatise on Ancient Armour and Weapons, page 21:
      Strictly speaking, the word corcelet meant only that part which covered the body, but was generally used to express the whole suit, under the terms of a corselet furnished, or complete.
  3. A tight-fitting item of clothing which covers the body and not the limbs.
  4. A type of women's underwear, combining a bra and a girdle in one garment; a corselette.
  5. (zoology) The thorax of an insect.
    • 1897, Henry James, What Maisie Knew:
      With the added suggestion of her goggles it reminded her pupil of the polished shell or corslet of a horrid beetle.

Derived terms

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Translations

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Anagrams

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French

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Etymology

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Diminutive form of Old French cors.

Pronunciation

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Noun

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corselet m (plural corselets)

  1. corselet (garment)
  2. (zoology) corselet, thorax

Further reading

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