This is from "Costume in England: A History of Dress" by F W Fairholt,
published in 1846. Strutt died in 1802.
Waistcoat - A term originally used, as at present, for an under-garment or coat reaching only to the waist. "It ultimately," says
Strutt, "superseded the doublet, but not until such time as the latter appellation was totally dropped." In the seventeenth century
it regained its original position and meaning.
It's not much help. Randle Holme was active 1683-1700, so he is a much better
source.
I *think* the word bodice as we use it is late Victorian. It was defined as "a sort of stays" in "A Critical Pronouncing
Dictionary", 1837 and in "Costume in England", 1846 (boddice). Webster's Dictionary defines it as "Stays; a corset." in 1867. In
1884 the "National Standard Encyclopedia" defines it as "A waistcoat quilted with whalebone, worn by women; stays; a corset." Was
that part of the question?
Happy sewing,
Deb Salisbury
The Mantua-Maker
Designer and creator of quality historical sewing patterns
Renaissance to Victorian
www.mantua-maker.com
http://mantua-maker-patterns.blogspot.com
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