stomacher

American  

[stuhm-uh-ker] / ˈstʌm ə kər /

noun

1. a richly ornamented garment covering the stomach and chest, worn in the 15th and 16th centuries, and later worn under a bodice by women.

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stomacher British  

/ ˈstʌməkə /

noun

1. a decorative V-shaped panel of stiff material worn over the chest and stomach by men and women in the 16th century, later only by women

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Etymology

Origin of stomacher

A late Middle English word dating back to 1400–50; see origin at stomach, -er ¹

Example Sentences

There’s the feather-bedecked cavalier hat, the skull mask, the beads, rubies, buttons, trim and sofa’s worth of tassels that pull together the stomacher, a Renaissance-era decorated panel.

From New York Times • Aug. 12, 2021

Through and around these scenes sweeps Edna Best, wearing a stomacher, a red wig and a putty nose.

From Time Magazine Archive

Mrs. Cornelius Vanderbilt was there, in hair ribbon and diamond stomacher.

From Time Magazine Archive

Mrs. Jenkins' voice was a little tired but back she came in blue & cream satin, a rhinestone stomacher and a rhinestone tiara.

From Time Magazine Archive

She hugged herself, her arms wrapped hard around her stomacher.

From "The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation, Volume II: The Kingdom on the Waves" by M.T. Anderson