bust improver

English

Noun

bust improver (plural bust improvers)

1. (historical) A late Victorian and Edwardian-era woman’s undergarment providing padding for the breasts.
   • 1899, Vincent O’Sullivan, “Same”, in The Green Window‎^[1], London: Leonard Smithers, page 14:

     The advertisement which I see most often, whether it be of a perfume which I never use, or of a lady’s “bust-improver” which is no concern of mine, is the one which sticks in my memory.

   • 1913, Katherine Mansfield, “Bains Turcs”, in The Blue Review, volume I, number 3, page 181:

     I walked along a tiled corridor decorated with advertisements for lingerie and bust improvers—was allotted a tiny cabin and a blue print chemise and told to undress and find the Warm Room as soon as possible.