brassiere

or bras·sière

[ bruh-zeer ]

noun

1. a woman's undergarment for supporting the breasts.

brassiere

/ ˈbræsɪə; ˈbræz- /

noun

1. a woman's undergarment for covering and supporting the breasts Often shortened tobra

Word History and Origins

Origin of brassiere¹

1910–15; < French brassière bodice worn as an undergarment to support the breasts (now obsolete in this sense), Middle French bracieres camisole, Old French: armor for the arms, equivalent to bras arm ( brace ) + -ière, suffix added to body part nouns, the resultant derivative denoting an article for that part < Latin -āria -ary

Word History and Origins

Origin of brassiere¹

C20: from C17 French: bodice, from Old French braciere a protector for the arm, from braz arm

Example Sentences

“The odd couple,” he barks, lifting up a brassiere fashioned so that one cup is larger than the other.

From New York Times

As a kid, they’d imagined themselves walking down the street with a curvy body wearing a brassiere and tight clothing.

From Los Angeles Times

But even more mainstream daytime dresses, button-down pinstriped suits and print dresses were tailored to offer a hint of a brassiere, a peek of a slip.

From Seattle Times

“Somebody said, ‘Oh, water brassiere, thank you very much,’ a water bra,” a chuckling Prince said.

From Seattle Times

In her small-scale works, she adorned cropped body parts with undergarments, corsets, brassieres and patterned fabrics.

From Washington Post