farthingale

Pronunciation: /ˈfɑɹðɪŋɡeɪl/

Estimated CEFR level: C2 — Proficiency

Estimated from word frequency; not an official CEFR classification.

Definition

  1. noun a hoop worn beneath a skirt to extend it horizontally; worn by European women in the 16th and 17th centuries

Etymology

Hobson-Jobson of earlier forms vardingale, etc., borrowed from Middle French verdugale, from Spanish verdugado, from verdugo (“rod”).

In classic literature

Semantic network

Broader (hypernyms)
hoop

A single word — an entire dictionary opens.

Type a word, a sentence, a book title, or a link to an English article. WordNet and the Classics answer.

Try

A library of classics · a vault of words · instant etymology & meaning

Continue reading

Nice save! Solidify it with review →