Browse hierarchy

Secondary term

corset

URI

https://nomenclature.info/nom/2643 (opens semantic view)

Definition

A close-fitting women's undergarment that often tightens and fastens up with hooks and laces. It can extend from above or beneath the bust or from the waist to below the hips, depending on the era from which the undergarment originates. Worn mainly by women, used to shape and support the figure. It was primarily worn over a chemise. The era also determines whether it is made with boning, steel, elastic goring, or cording to keep its shape. It can have straps or be strapless, trimmed with ribbons or lace and sometimes has attachments for garters, depending on the style.

Definition source(s)

• Parks Canada / Parcs Canada, and Canadian Heritage Information Network / Réseau canadien d’information sur le patrimoine. n.d. “Parks Canada Descriptive and Visual Dictionary of Objects / Dictionnaire descriptif et visuel de Parcs Canada.”

English

Term (International)

corset

Alternative term(s)

corselet; corselette; posture support; stays; waist cincher

French

Term (International)

corset

Term gender (International)

masculine

Alternative term(s)

corps à baleine; guêpière

Spanish

Term

corsés

External term source

Art & Architecture Thesaurus Online

Note(s)

• From the late 16th/early 17th century through the end of the 18th century, corsets were referred to as stays. “Corset” comes from the French term for a body (corps) and the term was first used in France in the 1770s. The shape of stays and corsets changed with what was in fashion at the time—for example, hoop skirts had to be paired with short corsets, but by the turn of the 19th century, corsets were longer to compliment the “Gibson Girl” style. The two terms were used interchangeably, but eventually the term “stays” fell out of style.

Date created

2010-01-01

Date updated

2025-05-12

Parks Canada code(s)

• 03-00228

Downloads

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URL

https://page.nomenclature.info/nom/2643 (reopens this page)

Exact matching concepts from other linked open data sources

Note: external sources may not have all data in both English and French.