[a. F. chemisette, dim. of chemise; applied to a kind of (women’s) bodice, and to a detached ‘shirt-front’ worn by men.]
1. A bodice, more or less like the upper part of a chemise, worn by women, in some countries.
1807. Sir R. Wilson, Jrnl., in Life (1862), II. 239. She [a Polish girl] had a chemisette with a high and stiff frill.
1881. Goldw. Smith, Lect. & Ess., 185. A white puffed out Russian chemisette.
1882. H. Lansdell, Through Siberia, I. 219. Madame Peacock wore … a magenta chemisette.
2. An ornamental article of dress, usually of lace or muslin made to fill in the open front and neck of a woman’s dress.
1844. Kinglake, Eöthen, viii. 122. ‘Dress,’ and ‘frock,’ and ‘boddice,’ and ‘collar,’ and ‘habit-shirt,’ and sweet ‘chemisette.’
1857. W. Collins, Dead Secret, III. iv. (1861), 95. She had a chemisette in her hand, the frill of which was laced through with ribbon.
1865. Cornh. Mag., Oct., 487. She … loosened the fastenings of her dress … removed the studs from the chemisette beneath it.
1883. Mrs. Leach, Dressmaker’s Dict., Chemisette, the lace or muslin which fills up the V, square, or heart-shaped opening of a dress.
