wasp waist

noun

1. a woman's slender waistline, especially when the result of tight corseting.

wasp waist

noun

1. a very slender waist, esp one that is tightly corseted

Derived Forms

• ˈwasp-ˌwaisted, adjective

Other Words From

• wasp-waisted adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of wasp waist¹

First recorded in 1865–70

Example Sentences

We somehow suspected that the demand for a return of the wasp waist had influential interests behind it.

From Project Gutenberg

A charming Marquise dc Largillere with a wasp waist in blue velvet, elegant and haughty.

From Project Gutenberg

She had a beautiful figure; not a wasp waist by any means, but a natural figure, full of power and grace.

From Project Gutenberg

He calls Stacey wasp-waist, but it only calls attention to his own big stomach.

From Project Gutenberg

In 1860-65, the hoop-skirt held sway, and the wasp waist was typical of beauty.

From Project Gutenberg