noun
collar; lapels
Refers to the area around the collar or lapels of clothing, especially when grabbed or held. Most commonly used in the phrase 胸ぐらを掴む (to grab someone by the collar).
彼は怒って相手の胸ぐらを掴んだ。
He angrily grabbed the other person by the collar.
胸ぐらを掴まれて、息が苦しくなった。
I was grabbed by the collar and had trouble breathing.
襟 is the general word for collar or neckline, while 胸ぐら specifically refers to the front part of the collar or lapels, often in the context of being grabbed.
Compound of 胸 (muna, 'chest') and ぐら (gura), possibly from 座 (kura, 'seat' or 'place'), referring to the area around the chest. The exact derivation of ぐら is uncertain.