breast padn.
/ˈbrɛs(t) pad/, U.S. /ˈbrɛs(t) ˌpæd/ 1. Any of various padded coverings for the breast or breasts that provide protection from friction, pressure, cold, injury, etc.
ΘΚΠ
the world > textiles and clothing > clothing > parts of clothing > [noun] > padding
bolster1600
bombasting1603
tabby1752
breast pad1810
1810 Repertory of Arts 2nd Ser. 17 163 A breast-pad, made concave, so as to fit the front of the breast exactly, without touching the thighs of the horse.
1881 Pop. Sci. June 150 Dr. Coale [recommends] flannel undershirts and drawers, with extra breast-pads in cold weather.
1952 Deming (New Mexico) Graphic 18 Nov. 1/4 Those were the days when anyone out for football..had to buy his own uniform... Shoulder pads,..breast pads, nose guards, and so forth were unheard of things.
2004 Jrnl. Courier (Jacksonville, Illinois) 21 July 7/2 (advt.) Our new [mammography] system offers..special breast pads to offer a comforting feeling of warmth during the screening.
2. An absorbent cloth or disposable pad, placed against the nipple in the bra of a woman who has recently given birth or is breastfeeding her baby or young child, to absorb leaking milk.Now the most common sense.
ΚΠ
1956 Lebanon (Pa.) Daily News 14 Feb. 3/5 (advt.) Maidenform nursing bras... Moisture proof flannel lined breast pads.
1979 Amer. Jrnl. Nursing 79 453/2 Breast care is included in the teaching plan: cleansing the nipples with water rather than soap..; frequent changing of breast pads, and so on.
2014 Z. Nawaz Laughing all Way to Mosque 124 I dashed into the women's washroom to switch out my breast pads, which were soaked.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2020; most recently modified version published online December 2021).
<
n.1810