An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Annotated/Mieder

by Friedrich Kluge

Mieder, neuter, ‘bodice, corset’ (with Middle High German and Upper German i instead of ü, Middle High German üe); from Middle High German müeder, muoder, neuter, literally ‘body, bodily form, skin, article of dress enveloping the upper part of the body, stays, bodice, vest,’ Old High German muodar, ‘alvus, belly of a snake’; compare Old Low German mûder, Old Frisian môther, ‘breast bandage’ (worn by women); Gothic, Anglo-Saxon, and Old Icelandic *môþr are wanting. The various meanings are specially ascribed to the relation of Leib, ‘body,’ to Leibchen, ‘stays.’ The word has also been connected further with Greek μήτρα, ‘‘womb,’ as well as with Latin mâtrix; this leads to its kinship with the cognates of Mutter.