bodice

noun

bod·ice ˈbä-dəs

: the upper part of a woman's dress

archaic : corset, stays

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The Fashionable History of Bodice

The term bodice is derived from body. One sense of the word body is “the part of a garment covering the body or trunk.” In the 17th and 18th centuries a woman’s corset was often called a “pair of bodies.” The plural bodies, or bodice, was eventually interpreted as a singular. Bodice is now most often used to refer to the upper part of a woman’s dress.

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Examples of bodice in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

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Details included a ruffled accent going down the skirt and a slightly pleated bodice. —

Bailey Richards, People.com, 8 Feb. 2025 Or the glistening corset bodice with superb detailing. —

Robyn Mowatt, Essence, 8 Feb. 2025 The strapless dress featured a satin corset bodice with visible lacing. —

Julia Teti, WWD, 7 Feb. 2025 The notes of the 1877 version report on a costume made of maline lace, embroidered with gold stitches, with a bodice of straw-colored satin, decorated with sequins and gilt mesh. —

Angelica Frey, JSTOR Daily, 3 Feb. 2025 See all Example Sentences for bodice