farthingale

[ fahr-th ing-geyl ]
/ ˈfɑr ðɪŋˌgeɪl /

noun

a hoop skirt or framework for expanding a woman's skirt, worn in the 16th and 17th centuries.

Origin of farthingale

1545–55; earlier verdynggale < Middle French verdugale, alteration of Old Spanish verdugado, equivalent to verdug(o) tree-shoot, rod ( verd(e) green (< Latin viridis) + -ugo noun suffix) + -ado -ade1; so called from rod used to extend skirt

Words nearby farthingale

British Dictionary definitions for farthingale

farthingale
/ (ˈfɑːðɪŋˌɡeɪl) /

noun

a hoop or framework worn under skirts, esp in the Elizabethan period, to shape and spread them

Word Origin for farthingale

C16: from French verdugale, from Old Spanish verdugado, from verdugo rod