bodice
BAH-diss
/ˈbɑː.dɪs/
The upper part of a dress, covering the torso from the shoulders to the waistline.
Refers to the fitted upper section of a two-part or single-piece dress structure.
The story behind the word. In 16th-century England, women wore a stiffened two-piece outer garment called a 'pair of bodies'. Over time, the spelling fused into 'bodice', shifting from a separate garment to the top portion of a dress.
Word relationships
- corsage: Corsage in historical French clothing meant a bodice, though in modern English it usually refers to a small floral bouquet.
Commonly confused with
- corset: A corset is an undergarment designed to shape the body, whereas a bodice is part of the outer garment itself.
Collocations
- fitted bodice
- lace bodice
- corseted bodice
- bodice seam
Idioms & expressions
- bodice-ripper
Example sentences
- "The evening gown featured a heavily boned lace bodice that cinched tightly at the natural waist." Historical fashion
- "She adjusted the bust darts on the bodice pattern to ensure a seamless contour across the chest." Modern dressmaking
Memory hook
BODICE covers the upper BODY's surface. The body piece of the dress.
When not to use
Do not use for loose t-shirts or men's shirts; it specifically belongs to dressmaking and historical garments.
Fun facts
- The informal term 'bodice-ripper' arose in the 1970s to describe romantic fiction set in historical periods.
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