placket

plural plackets

1. A slit or other opening in an item of clothing, to allow access to pockets or fastenings

   Dislike dressing together. Nicked myself shaving. Biting her nether lip, hooking the placket of her skirt.

   1922 February 2, James Joyce, Ulysses, Paris: Shakespeare and Company […], →OCLC

   1 more example

   When the placket of his shirt gave way, the stones tore freely into the skin on his chest and back, and he no longer imagined Lucy Hartley enjoying his guitar serenades—he wondered if he would get to the roof alive.

   2001, Glen David Gold, Carter Beats the Devil

2. obsoleteA petticoat, especially an underpetticoat.

   Is there no manners left among maids?VVill they vveare their plackets vvhere they ſhould bear their faces?

   c. 1610–1611 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Winters Tale”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act IV, scene iv], page 293, column 1

3. broadlyobsoleteslangA woman.

   […] was that brave [hart] made to pant for a placket: and now i’th’ dog-days too, when nothing dare love!

   1647, John Fletcher, The Humorous Lieutenant, London: H.N., 1697, act 4, scene 1, page 50

   1 more example

   […]: after this,the vengeance on the vvhole Camp,or rather,the bone-ach,for that,me thinkes is the curſe dependant on thoſe that vvarre for a placket.

   c. 1602 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Troylus and Cressida”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act II, scene iii]

4. obsoleteA woman's pocket.
5. historicalA leather jacket strengthened with strips of steel.
6. historicalAn additional plate of steel on the lower half of the breastplate or backplate.

   Synonyms: placcat, placcate