Bandeaus

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. An article of clothing resembling a band that fits snugly around the torso without straps, serving as a stylish bust cover while providing minimal support and coverage A fashion piece typically worn as a strapless top that encircles the upper body, often designed for both aesthetic appeal and comfort in casual or dressy contexts A type of strapless garment that serves both functional and fashionable purposes by providing a lightweight covering for the bust area, commonly used in various outfit styles
2. A close-fitting, strapless garment wrapped around the chest, used mainly for minimal bust coverage and style
3. A simple, band-like piece of clothing worn across the upper body to cover the bust without support straps

Etymology: "Bandeaus" is the plural of "bandeau", a word that came into English from French, where it means a band or headband. The French term is a diminutive of "bande" (band, strip), passed through Old French as "bandel", so the core idea is simply a little strip of material. It is a doublet of "bendel", a word that entered English by a different route and survives mainly in older senses of a band or strip. The garment sense is a later extension of the headband meaning. A bandeau was originally a band worn around the head, and the word was later applied to a narrow strapless top covering the bust, which is what the plural refers to here.