What does stomacher mean?
A stomacher was a decorated front panel worn over the chest and stomach as part of a bodice, particularly in European dress of the 16th and 17th centuries. Often richly made from silk, velvet, or fine linen and ornamented with embroidery, lace, jewels, or metalwork, it emphasized the narrow waist and provided a prominent surface for display. Although “stomacher” can refer specifically to the panel, it may also name the whole bodice or waist garment of which the panel formed the front. The word survives chiefly in costume history, historical description, and modern attempts to reconstruct early modern clothing. It is distinct from “stomach,” despite the shared spelling: a stomacher is a garment component, whereas the stomach is an internal digestive organ.
nounA stomacher is an ornamental panel covering the front of a bodice, worn especially by women in the 16th and 17th centuries. The term can also refer to the decorated bodice or waist garment incorporating such a panel.
- An ornamental front panel or covering for the chest and waist, especially in 16th- and 17th-century dress.
"Her richly embroidered stomacher drew attention to the waist of the Elizabethan gown."
"The portrait shows a red stomacher embroidered with gold thread."
"She fastened a lace stomacher over the front of her bodice."
The usual plural is “stomachers,” though the word is now encountered mainly in historical contexts.
"The collection includes several embroidered stomachers from the seventeenth century."
A stomacher was the jeweled centerpiece of an early modern bodice, turning the torso into a showcase of embroidery, lace, and costly fabric.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does stomacher come from?
The word entered English from French, where it was associated with estomac, meaning “stomach” and ultimately deriving from Greek stomachos. The name referred to the part of the bodice covering the front of the torso. The garment term became established in English during the 16th century and was especially associated with richly decorated women’s dress.
How stomacher is actually used
The word is chiefly historical and is now used mainly in costume history, dress reconstruction, and descriptions of early modern clothing. It is not normally used for a present-day garment.