corsage

[ kawr-sahzh ]

noun

1. a small bouquet worn at the waist, on the shoulder, on the wrist, etc., by a woman.
2. the body or waist of a dress; bodice.

corsage

/ kɔːˈsɑːʒ /

noun

1. a flower or small bunch of flowers worn pinned to the lapel, bosom, etc, or sometimes carried by women
2. the bodice of a dress

Word History and Origins

Origin of corsage¹

1475–85; < Middle French: bodily shape (later: bust, bodice, corsage), equivalent to cors body (< Latin corpus ) + -age -age

Word History and Origins

Origin of corsage¹

C15: from Old French, from cors body, from Latin corpus

Example Sentences

Neither of them could be bothered to notice me soaring up on the dressing table, dropping into the tufted jewelry case, beside the orchid corsage.

From Literature

Adding ribbons in school colors became popular after World War II, she said, when the corsage became an extension of school spirit.

From Seattle Times

She asked jurors if they’d be able to remember the color of their prom corsages or who was class president their junior year, the Chicago Sun-Times reported.

From Seattle Times

Solheim said she will happily provide bouquets and corsages for all celebrations.

From Seattle Times

On graduation day, teachers pinned corsages on the laughing graduates, usually a job for younger students.

From Reuters

Related Words

• garland
• pot
• vase
• wreath