Forms: 4–9 corsette, 5 corsete, coursette, 9 corsett, 5– corset. [a. F. corset (13th c. in Littré), dim. of OF. cors body.]
1. A close-fitting body-garment; esp. a laced bodice worn as an outside garment by women in the middle ages and still in many countries; also a similar garment formerly worn by men.
1299. Wardrobe Acct. 28 Edw. I., 28/15. 2 corsett’ de miniver.
1387. Trevisa, Higden (Rolls), II. 361. He dede on a corsette of Janyr.
1483. Caxton, G. de la Tour, B viij. This gyse … of these grete pourfyls and of the coursettys torned by the sydes.
c. 1530. Ld. Berners, Arth. Lyt. Bryt. (1814), 336. Her senesshal … mounted on a gret courser, and in a rich corset of grene, gyrt wt a white silken lace.
1805. Ht. & S. Lee, Canterb. T., V. 228. She wore a corset, the short waist and petticoats of her country.
1811. Scott, Don Roderick, xxxiii. He conscious of his broidered cap and band, She of her netted locks and light corsette.
2. A closely fitting inner bodice stiffened with whalebone or the like, and fastened by lacing; worn chiefly by women to give shape and support to the figure; stays.
1795. Times, 24 June, 3/1. Corsettes about six inches long, and a slight buffon tucker of two inches high, are now the only defensive paraphernalia of our fashionable Belles.
1796. Specif. W. Booth’s Patent, No. 2112. An improvement in the making of stays and corsettes.
a. 1847. Mrs. Sherwood, Lady of Manor, V. xxxi. 235. Her morning-dress, which … she always wore without her corset.
1871. B. Taylor, Faust (1875), I. iv. 81. To see If tightly laced the corsets be.
† 3. = CORSLET 1. Obs.
c. 1489. Caxton, Sonnes of Aymon, iii. 79. Ye sholde haue seen … corsettes and flancardes all to brosten.
4. attrib.
1837. Whittock, Bk. Trades (1842), 165. (heading) Corset-maker. Ibid., 166. Females are more employed in stay and corset making than males.
1882. Dict. Needlework, s.v., Corset Cord … is made both of linen and of cotton.
