Women's undergarments, nightwear, or intimate apparel, typically made of delicate fabrics like silk or lace. The term encompasses bras, panties, slips, and sleepwear designed to be both functional and aesthetically pleasing.
From French 'lingerie,' originally meaning 'linen goods' or 'things made of linen,' derived from 'linge' meaning 'linen.' The word entered English in the mid-19th century, gradually shifting from general linen goods to specifically women's intimate apparel.
The word 'lingerie' originally had nothing to do with seduction or intimacy—it simply referred to household linen items like sheets and towels. The semantic shift to intimate apparel reflects changing social attitudes about women's clothing and privacy in the Victorian era.
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