gusset

American  

[guhs-it] / ˈgʌs ɪt /

noun

1. a small, triangular piece of material inserted into a shirt, shoe, etc., to improve the fit or for reinforcement.

2. Civil Engineering. a plate for uniting structural members at a joint, as in a steel frame or truss.

3. Armor.

   1. Also called voider.  an area of mail backed with cloth, for defending the armpits or areas at joints.

   2. a small piece of plate armor at the armhole of a cuirass; pallet.

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gusset British  

/ ˈɡʌsɪt /

noun

1. an inset piece of material used esp to strengthen or enlarge a garment

2. a triangular metal plate for strengthening a corner joist between two structural members

3. a piece of mail fitted between armour plates or into the leather or cloth underclothes worn with armour, to give added protection

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verb

1. (tr) to put a gusset in (a garment)

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• gusseted
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of gusset

1375–1425; late Middle English < Old French gousset, derivative of gousse pod, husk

Explanation

A reinforcing piece of fabric sewn into a garment is called a gusset. Manufacturers use metal gussets to reinforce joists or join metal plates together. Most gussets are shaped like triangles. Some gussets make clothing sturdier, and some make it wider or shape it more accurately to the body. They might be added along the sides of a shirt, under the arms, or at the spot where inside leg seams meet in a pair of pants or tights. The original gussets were used in chain mail or armor, to cover unprotected areas. The word comes from the Old French gosset, "armhole," or "piece of armor for the armpit."

Related Words

• hem
• joint
• pleat