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In corsetry, a bone is one of the rigid parts of a corset that forms its frame, gives it rigidity, and helps to shape the wearer's body.
Originally, bones were made of whalebone, because no other material matched it for flexibility and strength. As whalebone was expensive, wood and cane were also used. Ivory was another luxury material used for the centre front bone, which was known as the busk. In the nineteenth century, whalebone was superseded by steel. Today, many corsets use plastic bones, although steel is still favoured for high-quality corsets.
Bones, and the substances used for the purpose, are often generically called boning. They are also called ribs and stays.
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