Bustlines

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A line that visually defines the contour of a person's bust or chest area
2. A term used in fashion design to indicate the measurement or appearance of the breast contour
3. A specific reference point in garment fitting that relates to the shape or proportion of the bust region

Etymology: "Bustlines" is simply the plural of "bustline," which is formed from two English words placed side by side: "bust," the upper part of the human torso, and "line," a contour or outline. A bustline, in dressmaking and fashion, is the horizontal line that marks the fullest part of the bust, and garments are often cut, seamed or fitted with reference to it. The "bust" element traces back through French "buste" and Italian "busto" to Latin "būstum," originally a funeral pyre or tomb, and later a sculpted portrait of the head and shoulders. The "line" element comes from Old English "līne," a cord or string, which passed into Middle English and was reinforced by Middle French "ligne" before settling into its modern sense of a marked stroke or boundary.

Synonyms: chests, figures