Definition of Farthingale

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

Generic synonyms: Hoop

Definition of Farthingale

1. n. A hoop skirt or hoop petticoat, or other light, elastic material, used to extend the petticoat.

Definition of Farthingale

1. Noun. (context: now historical) A hooped structure in cloth worn to extend the skirt of women's dresses; a hooped petticoat. ¹

¹ Source: wiktionary.com

Definition of Farthingale

1. [n -S]

Medical Definition of Farthingale

1. A hoop skirt or hoop petticoat, or other light, elastic material, used to extend the petticoat. "We'll revel it as bravely as the best, . . . With ruffs and cuffs, and farthingales and things." (Shak) Origin: OE. Vardingale, fardingale, fr. OF. Vertugale, verdugade, F. Vertugade, vertugadin, from Sp. Verdugado, being named from its hoops, fr. Verdugo a young shoot of tree, fr. Verde green, fr. L. Viridis. See Verdant. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998)

Lexicographical Neighbors of Farthingale

fas

Literary usage of Farthingale

Below you will find example usage of this term as found in modern and/or classical literature:

1. The English Illustrated Magazine (1908)
"Mrs. farthingale did not want to try it on ; yet she loved to see herself ... The notes were refused when, half an hour later, Mrs. farthingale pressed them ..."

2. The American Cyclopaedia: A Popular Dictionary of General Knowledge by George Ripley, Charles Anderson Dana (1883)
"In England the hoop, the successor of the farthingale, went out of fashion in the reign of George IV., who forbade it at court. FAST (Sax. fastan, to keep), ..."

3. The Quarterly Review by William Gifford, George Walter Prothero, John Gibson Lockhart, John Murray, Whitwell Elwin, John Taylor Coleridge, Rowland Edmund Prothero Ernle, William Macpherson, William Smith (1896)
"Catharine of Braganza arrived in England dressed in a farthingale, and Sir Roger ... The farthingale disappeared in Charles II.'s reign, but was practically ..."

4. Longer Plays by Modern Authors [American] by Helen Louise Cohen (1922)
"LORD MANLY and LADY farthingale cross to the right-hand bench. LADY farthingale sits ... LADY farthingale. Mr. Brummell will never be able to stand it if ..."

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