decolletage
UK[ˌdekɒlˈtɑːʒ]US[ˌdeɪkɑːləˈtɑːʒ]
n
a low neckline on a woman's dress or top.
n
the area of a woman's chest and neck exposed by such a neckline.
Morpheme Breakdown
de
collet
age
de
down from, away
collet
age
Etymology
the word 'decolletage' entered english from french in the 19th century. it is built upon the french word 'collet', a diminutive of 'col' (neck), which itself originates from the latin 'collum' for neck. the prefix 'de-' implies a removal or lowering away from the neck, and the suffix '-age' forms a noun describing the resulting state or fashion. thus, the term literally describes the condition or style of a garment being lowered away from the neck, evolving to specifically denote the revealing neckline and the area it exposes.
Analysis
Structure: de + collet + age
de- (latin prefix, meaning 'down from, away'); collet (french, from 'col' meaning 'neck', derived from latin 'collum'); -age (french noun-forming suffix, indicating a state, condition, or result).
Examples
her evening gown featured a dramatic decolletage.
the dress code discouraged excessive decolletage at the formal event.
she accessorized her decolletage with a simple pendant necklace.