galligaskins

plural noun

gal·​li·​gas·​kins ˌga-li-ˈga-skənz How to pronounce galligaskins (audio)
1
a
: loose wide hose or breeches worn in the 16th and 17th centuries
b
: very loose trousers
2
dialectal, chiefly British : leggings

Word History

Etymology

earlier also garragascoynes, perhaps reshaping (after gascon) of Middle French garguesques, greguesques (also chausses à la gregesque "leggings in the gregesque style"), borrowed from Spanish gregüescos, plural of gregüesco, probably for *greguesco, from griego "Greek" (going back to Latin Graecus) + -esco -esque — more at greek entry 1

First Known Use

1577, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of galligaskins was in 1577

Dictionary Entries Near galligaskins

Cite this Entry

“Galligaskins.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/galligaskins. Accessed 22 Dec. 2024.

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