The Stays reference article from the English Wikipedia on 24-Jul-2004
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Stays

Time you got around to sponsoring a child
A old type of corsets. It is over the dress or skirt hang in the lower edge, opposite a corset which cover the hip.

A stays have normal shoulder strap opposite a waist cincher.

Corsets about 1550Enlarge

Corsets about 1550

stays ca. 1720Enlarge

stays ca. 1720

Stays 1855Enlarge

Stays 1855

Stays, common type. 1863Enlarge

Stays, common type. 1863