Before 1850, A stuffed pad worn below the waist under a woman's skirt to distend it. The Workwoman's Guide published in 1838, recommends that bustles be made in jean, strong calico, or glazed calico. Two bustles (Fig. 30-32 and Fig. 31) are essentially flounced fabric. Fig. 33 is a "down bustle," [Ref: http://demodecouture.com/late-18th-century-skirt-supports/].

Bustles became much larger later in the see bustle(2)

260, 399, 205