galligaskins

[ gal-i-gas-kinz ]
/ ˌgæl ɪˈgæs kɪnz /

noun (used with a plural verb)

loose hose or breeches worn in the 16th and 17th centuries.
loose breeches in general.
leggings or gaiters, usually of leather.
Also gallygaskins.

Origin of galligaskins

1570–80; earlier gallogascaine(s), galigascon(s), of obscure origin; final element is perhaps Gascon (later assimilated to -kin)

Words nearby galligaskins

gallicanism, gallice, gallicism, gallicize, gallienus, galligaskins, gallimaufry, gallinacean, gallinaceous, gallinas, gallinas point

Example sentences from the Web for galligaskins

  • "Cow's-grass, doublet, and galligaskins," responded the Refectioner.

    The Monastery |Sir Walter Scott

  • The assailants were indeed rascals of the same tarry, broad-breeched, stringfasted breed as Galligaskins of the cellar door.

    The Dew of Their Youth |S. R. Crockett

  • He goes on to relate how he is besieged by duns, and what a chasm there is in his "galligaskins."

    History of English Humour, Vol. 2 (of 2) |Alfred Guy Kingan L'Estrange

British Dictionary definitions for galligaskins

galligaskins

gallygaskins

/ (ˌɡælɪˈɡæskɪnz) /

pl n

loose wide breeches or hose, esp as worn by men in the 17th century
leather leggings, as worn in the 19th century

Word Origin for galligaskins

C16: from obsolete French garguesques, from Italian grechesco Greek, from Latin Graecus