farthingale

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   a hooped framework or petticoat worn under a skirt, especially in the 16th and 17th centuries, to spread it outward

   The costume's farthingale gave the skirt its rigid bell shape.

An alteration of Middle French verdugale, from Spanish verdugado, a hooped skirt, from verdugo, 'rod or young shoot.' Verdugo is related to verde, 'green,' from Latin viridis; the garment name referred to the rods that stiffened it.

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