Brogue
BROHG
/broʊɡ/
A sturdy outdoor shoe characterized by decorative perforated pattern work across leather panels, or an Irish accent.
Refers specifically to shoes with ornamental punched hole details (broguing), originating from functional drainage holes used in Irish bogs.
The story behind the word. The word traces back to Gaelic 'bróg', meaning a rough shoe made of untanned hide. Irish and Scottish gaelic farmers punched holes through the leather so water would drain out when walking through marshy peat bogs. Over centuries, shoemakers kept the decorative hole pattern while eliminating the functional drainage holes, creating the modern dress shoe pattern known as broguing.
Word relationships
- wingtip: A wingtip is a specific type of brogue featuring a toe cap shaped like a W or bird wings.
- stiletto: A stiletto is a delicate high-heeled shoe, whereas a brogue is a sturdy, flat dress shoe.
Commonly confused with
- Oxford: An Oxford refers to the lacing system (closed lacing), while a brogue refers to decorative hole perforations; a shoe can be both an Oxford and a brogue.
Word family
- broguing (noun): The decorative punched hole patterns applied to leather shoes.
- brogued (adjective): Decorated with punched leather patterning.
Collocations
- wingtip brogue
- leather brogues
- heavy brogues
- polished brogues
Example sentences
- "He wore a hand-tailored tweed jacket paired with polished brown leather brogues." Literary description of attire
- "The muddy turf of the estate left dark rings around the edges of his brogues." Historical fiction
Memory hook
Think of walking through a Irish BOG in a shoe that lets water through — BROGue. Peat bog drainage holes became high fashion.
When not to use
Do not use to describe plain dress Oxfords or casual canvas sneakers lacking perforated embellishments.
Fun facts
- In the 19th century, brogues were considered vulgar country footwear unacceptable for formal city occasions.
Explore more words
sneakers, tufting, stiletto, hole punch, functional, Peacoat
Also appears in
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