placket

English

Etymology

From French plaquer (“to lay or clap on”). See placard.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈplækɪt/
• Rhymes: -ækɪt

Noun

placket (plural plackets)

1. A slit or other opening in an item of clothing, to allow access to pockets or fastenings
   • 1922, James Joyce, Ulysses:

     Dislike dressing together. Nicked myself shaving. Biting her nether lip, hooking the placket of her skirt.

   • 2001, Glen David Gold, Carter Beats the Devil:

     When the placket of his shirt gave way, the stones tore freely into the skin on his chest and back, and he no longer imagined Lucy Hartley enjoying his guitar serenades—he wondered if he would get to the roof alive.

2. (obsolete) A petticoat, especially an underpetticoat.
   • c. 1610, William Shakespeare, The Winter’s Tale‎^[1], act 4, scene 4:

     Is there no manners left among maids? will they wear their plackets where they should bear their faces?

3. (obsolete, slang, by extension) A woman.
   • 1647, John Fletcher, The Humorous Lieutenant‎^[2], London: H.N., 1697, act 4, scene 1, page 50:

     […] was that brave [hart] made to pant for a placket: and now i’th’ dog-days too, when nothing dare love!

   • c. 1601, William Shakespeare, Troilus and Cressida‎^[3], act 2, scene 2:

     After this, the vengeance on the whole camp! or rather, the bone-ache! for that, methinks, is the curse dependent on those that war for a placket.

4. (obsolete) A woman's pocket.
5. (historical) A leather jacket strengthened with strips of steel.
6. (historical) An additional plate of steel on the lower half of the breastplate or backplate.

   Synonyms: placcat, placcate

Derived terms

• placket hole