What is "corsage"

Corsage \Cor"sage\ (k[^o]r"s[asl]j), n. [F. See Corset.]

1. The waist or bodice of a lady's dress; as, a low corsage.

2. (k[^o]r*s[aum]zh") a flower or small arrangement of flowers worn by a person as a personal ornament. Typically worn by women on special occasions (as, at a ball or an anniversary celebration), a corsage may be worn pinned to the chest, or tied to the wrist. It is usually larger or more elaborate than a boutonniere.

late 15c., "size of the body," from Old French cors "body" (see corpse); the meaning "body of a woman's dress, bodice" is from 1818 in fashion plates translated from French; 1843 in a clearly English context. Sense of "a bouquet worn on the bodice" is 1911, American English, apparently from French bouquet de corsage "bouquet of the bodice."

n. 1 (context obsolete English) The size or shape of a person's body. 2 (context now only historical English) The waist or bodice of a lady's dress. 3 A small bouquet of flowers, originally worn attached to the bodice of a woman's dress.

n. an arrangement of flowers that is usually given as a present [syn: bouquet, posy, nosegay]

A corsage is a small bouquet of flowers worn on a woman's dress or worn around her wrist to a formal occasion, traditionally purchased by the woman's date. Corsages are now most commonly seen at prom or similar events.

Originally named after the French word for the bodice of a dress to which it was attached, they were originally thought to be lucky or ward off evil spirits It has become a customary practice and a demonstration of affection from a date. It is thought that originally the gentleman would bring a gift of flowers for the parents of his date, and would select one flower to give to his date which would then be carried or attached to her clothing.

• In some countries, corsages are worn by the mothers and grandmothers of the bride and groom at a wedding ceremony.
• The flower(s) is(are) worn on a young woman's clothing or wrist for the homecoming celebration or other formal occasions such as prom in some schools around the world.

Sometimes incorrectly called corsages, flowers worn by men are traditionally known as buttonholes or boutonnieres.

Corsage refers to the bodice of a dress. In the 19th century, corsage was a common term for a woman's bodice or jacket. Its origin is French. In modern usage, corsage is often confused with a corset, but a corset is tighter. A bridal corset is often a corsage.