What does corselet mean?
A corselet is a piece of armor designed to protect the trunk of the body, typically formed from a breastplate at the front and a backplate behind. The term also refers to a close-fitting garment for the upper body, most notably a woman's foundation garment that combines the functions of a brassiere and a girdle, popular chiefly in the mid-twentieth century. Both senses share an etymological thread: the word derives from the Latin 'corpus', meaning body, via the French 'corselet', a diminutive of 'cors'. In modern English, the armor sense survives mainly in historical, museum, and fantasy-gaming contexts, while the clothing sense is largely dated and encountered in discussions of vintage fashion. The word carries an evocative, slightly archaic flavor, conjuring images of armored soldiers or hourglass silhouettes, which makes it useful to writers seeking period color or precise technical vocabulary.
A piece of armor protecting the torso, comprising a breastplate and backplate.
"Bronze corselets have been recovered from warrior graves across the ancient Mediterranean."
Chiefly historical; common in archaeology and military history.
A close-fitting upper-body garment, especially a woman's foundation garment combining brassiere and girdle elements.
"She chose a satin corselet to wear under her wedding gown."
Often spelled 'corselette' when referring specifically to the lingerie form; the usage is largely mid-century and dated.
Regular plural; used for multiple pieces of armor or garments.
"The armory displayed rows of steel corselets from the sixteenth century."
The word on your armor and the word on your lingerie share the same root — both come from the Latin 'corpus', meaning body.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of corselet
Corselet comes from the French 'corselet', a diminutive of 'cors' meaning body, itself descended from the Latin 'corpus'. The word entered English around the early sixteenth century, first denoting light armor for the torso worn by infantrymen such as pikemen and musketeers. Because it shares the Latin root 'corpus', it is related to words like 'corps', 'corpse', 'corporeal', and 'incorporate'. A later sense developed for women's close-fitting undergarments, often rendered by the variant 'corselette'.
Related word forms
How corselet is actually used
The armor sense is now largely historical or archaeological in register, appearing in discussions of ancient and Renaissance warfare. The garment sense, often styled 'corselette', is somewhat dated and associated mainly with mid-twentieth-century fashion; modern usage is rare outside vintage contexts.
Easily confused with corselet
A corset is a stiffened undergarment shaped to slim the waist, while a corselet is either a piece of torso armor or a lighter, boned foundation garment combining bra and girdle.