gusset
UK[ˈɡʌsɪt]US[ˈɡʌsɪt]
n
a piece of material sewn into a garment to strengthen or enlarge a part of it, such as the underarm seam of a shirt.
n
a metal plate used to strengthen a joint in a framework.
Etymology
the word 'gusset' entered english in the late middle english period, borrowed from the old french 'gousset', which referred to a piece of chainmail covering the armpit. the old french term itself is a diminutive derived from 'gousse', meaning 'pod' or 'shell', likely evoking the protective, shell-like function of the piece. this concrete meaning evolved from a protective armor component to its modern sense in tailoring and engineering, where it denotes any inserted piece of material or metal that provides reinforcement or expansion to a structure or garment.
Analysis
this word is a loanword from old french, where its form and meaning were directly adopted. it is not productively formed from identifiable english morphemes and is therefore treated as a simplex unit.
Examples
the tailor added a triangular gusset under the arm to give the shirt more freedom of movement.
the engineers installed a steel gusset plate at the intersection of the beams to ensure the bridge's stability.
for a better fit, some hiking pants feature a gusset in the crotch area.