A close-fitting undergarment worn to support and shape the chest; commonly called a bra.
From French 'brassière' meaning a child's arm protector or sleeve, derived from 'bras' (arm). The garment was adapted in the early 1900s and borrowed the French term.
The word originally meant 'arm protector'—so the intimate garment we know today took its name from something completely different, showing how words migrate meanings across centuries!
Brassiere entered English in the 1930s from French; the garment itself was marketed through gendered advertising that tied it to body control, femininity, and male approval rather than comfort or autonomy.
Neutral term for the garment itself. When discussing undergarments, use respectfully; avoid diminutive terms like 'bra' in formal medical/technical contexts.
The history of brassieres is entwined with women's bodily autonomy movements—from 1960s burn protests against constrictive standards to modern discussions of choice and comfort.
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