stomacher

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English stomakere, stomachere, perhaps after Anglo-Norman *estomachier. Equivalent to stomach + -er.

noun

1. (obsolete) A type of men's waistcoat.
2. (now chiefly historical) An ornamental cloth, often embellished with embroidery or jewelry, worn over the chest by women beneath their bodices or by men and women as the central part of an open shirt, blouse, or jacket.
   Stomacher brooch of brilliants and fine oriental pearls. 1851, Commissioners for the Exhibition of 1851, Official descriptive and illustrated catalogue: Volume 2, page 689
   From about 1850 onwards jewellery varied between these outsize sprays, stomachers and corsage montages and smaller, more delicate pieces which appeared almost understated by contrast. 1964, Mona Curran, Collecting Antique Jewellery, Emerson Books, page 76
   The most striking accessory of all, however, was a diamond stomacher, a kind of lapidary bib that covered the princess's chest and stomach. We do not know exactly what Charlotte was thinking as she stood under the weight of silver, ermine, velvet, and jewels. But we know what many who saw her thought about her stomacher. 2006, Judith Pascoe, The Hummingbird Cabinet, Cornell University Press,, page 58
3. A similar item of mail worn over and protecting the stomach.
   Over it he placed a chain mail stomacher. Then, atop all, he strapped on an item of shaped metal he called a tace. “There,”he said at last. “She might knock the windout of you, but she won't kill you.” 2013-10-18, Eileen Gunn, Questionable Practices: Stories, Small Beer Press
   Irritated to find his way barred by a brace of Englishmen, Victoire took one below the ear and the other low down, through the mail stomacher, before tramping on into the shade of a tree and sitting down with his back to the trunk. 2019-01-01, Geraldine McCaughrean, Vainglory: Can anything stop the Gloriole family achieving power?, Mereo Books, page 127
4. A blow to the stomach.