A stiff petticoat or underskirt made from horsehair and linen, or later steel hoops, worn to extend the skirt of a dress. Modern crinoline refers to any stiff fabric used for similar structural purposes in garments.
From French 'crinoline', combining 'crin' (horsehair) and 'lin' (linen). Originally developed in the 1840s as a lighter alternative to multiple heavy petticoats, revolutionizing women's undergarments.
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