brogue

1 of 2

noun (1)

ˈbrōg 

1

: a stout coarse shoe worn formerly in Ireland and the Scottish Highlands

2

: a heavy shoe often with a hobnailed sole : brogan

3

: a stout oxford shoe with perforations and usually a wing tip

brogue

2 of 2

noun (2)

: a dialect or regional pronunciation

especially : an Irish accent

Did you know?

Did you expect brogue to be defined as "an Irish accent"? We're sure you're not alone: brogue has two homographs (words that are spelled—and, in this case, pronounced—the same but have different origins or parts of speech). The brogue that refers to the shoe comes from the Irish word bróg and Scottish Gaelic bròg, and likely traces back to an Old Norse term meaning "leg covering." (That ancestor is related to an ancestor of the English word breech.) Originating in Ireland, the brogue was designed to be a worker's shoe and was made from untanned hides. The "accent" brogue comes from a different Irish word, barróg, which can refer to an accent or speech impediment and translates literally as "tight grip."

Examples of brogue in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Think Gucci loafers rather than Church’s brogues and the Ferrari’s purpose becomes clear. —IEEE Spectrum, 28 Mar. 2012

Thom Browne also created a pair of custom brogue heels for Roan. —Hannah Malach, WWD, 4 Nov. 2024

Underneath the dress, Hahn sported platform brogue heels in a patent leather, which added mega height. —Christian Allaire, Vogue, 29 Oct. 2024

But when the Shelby family's gang mistakenly steals a crate of weapons meant for Libya, Winston Churchill sends Major Chester Campbell (Sam Neill), a law enforcer with a Belfast brogue, to straighten things out alongside Grace Burgess, a charming Irish spy (Annabelle Wallis). —Charley Locke, WIRED, 6 July 2016

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Irish bróg & Scottish Gaelic bròg, from Middle Irish bróc, probably from Old Norse brōk leg covering; akin to Old English brōc leg covering — more at breech

Noun (2)

Irish barróg accent, speech impediment, literally, wrestling hold, tight grip

First Known Use

Noun (1)

1584, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (2)

1677, in the meaning defined above

Podcast

Get Word of the Day delivered to your inbox!

Kids Definition

brogue

1 of 2 noun

ˈbrōg 

1

: brogan

2

: a low shoe with decorative holes along the seams and often at the toe

brogue

2 of 2 noun

: a dialect or regional pronunciation

especially : an Irish accent

Etymology

Noun

from Irish bróg and Scottish Gaelic bròg "stout shoe," derived from an early Norse word meaning "leg covering"

Noun

Irish barróg "accent, speech impediment," literally, "wrestling grip, tight hold"