bodice

 
Pronunciation: /ˈbɒdɪs/

noun

  • the part of a woman’s dress (excluding the sleeves) which is above the waist.
  • a woman’s sleeveless undergarment, often laced at the front.

Origin:

mid 16th century (originally bodies): plural of body, retaining the original pronunciation. The term probably first denoted an undergarment, then known as a pair of bodice, although this sense is not recorded until the early 17th century