Origin and history of stays

1560s, oddly spelled plural of body, originally the name of a tight-fitting Elizabethan inner stays or corset, laced in front, covering the torso, worn by women and sometimes men; plural because the body came in two parts which fastened in the middle. For the spelling, compare deuce. In modern use, an outer laced garment covering the waist and bust worn by women, often as an ornament.

Bodice-ripper for "racy romance novel" is from 1981. Related: Bodiced.

"a support, prop, brace, something that steadies something else," early 14c., stai, from Old French estaie "piece of wood used as a support," which is perhaps from Frankish *staka "support" or some other Germanic word. The source is Proto-Germanic *stagaz (source also of Middle Dutch stake "stick," Old English steli "steel," stæg "rope used to support a mast"), from PIE *stak- "to stand, place" (see stay (n.2)).

In some senses the English word is from or influenced by stay (v.2) "support, sustain." For the sense of "waistcoat stiffened with whalebone, etc.," see stays.

also stay-maker, "maker of corsets," 1730, from stays + maker.