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The Allusionist

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A PODCAST ABOUT LANGUAGE
BY HELEN ZALTZMAN

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The Allusionist

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Allusionist 2: Bosom Holder

January 14, 2015 The Allusionist

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There are many synonyms for 'underwear'. There are many synonyms for the body parts you keep in your underwear. But there's only one word for 'bra'. Visit http://theallusionist.org/bras to find out more about this episode. Tweet @allusionistshow,

Today, we learn how 'bra' went from meaning a piece of French armour to something sold at Victoria's Secret.

Bra expert Lori Smith gives us a peek beneath the blouses of yore, from bra-boning to bra-burning.

Here's the first recorded appearance of the word 'brassiere', in Vogue from 23rd May 1907:

Fancy making your own hankie bra, a la Mary Phelps Jacobs? Here's the pattern. Or the blueprints for a power station, I'm not sure.

Here's an instructional video to help you:

Nope, not a clue.

Additional reading:

  • They discovered a medieval bra, AKA 'breastbags'.

  • Here's an interesting potted history of the bra, and here's a brief history of knickers that includes an illustration of a woman relieving herself into what looks like a gravyboat.

  • Mary Phelps Jacobs changed her name to Caresse Crosby and went on to have an intriguing, turbulent life - patenting the first brassiere was certainly not the pinnacle of her achievements.

RANDOMLY SELECTED WORD FROM THE DICTIONARY:
limnology

limnology.jpg

CREDITS

  • Presented and produced by Helen Zaltzman.

  • Bra master Lori Smith blogs at rarelywearslipstick.com and tweets at @lipsticklori.

  • Thanks to Amber Butchart and Greg Jenner.

MUSIC

  • 'Allusionist Theme' - Martin Austwick

  • 'Underwear' - Magnetic Fields

  • 'Underneath Your Clothes' [Instrumental] - Shakira

  • 'Underwear' - Pulp

- HZ

In episodes Tags etymology, women, feminism, corsets, corsetry, underpants, bras, knickers, undergarments, Mary Phelps Jacobs, brassiere, bra, bra-burning
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