brogue

¹

[ brohg ]

noun

1. an Irish accent in the pronunciation of English.
2. any strong regional accent.

brogue

²

[ brohg ]

noun

1. a durable, comfortable, low-heeled shoe, often having decorative perforations and a wing tip.
2. a coarse, usually untanned leather shoe once worn in Ireland and Scotland.
3. brogan.

brogue

³

[ brohg ]

noun

, Scot.

1. a fraud; trick; prank.

brogue

¹

/ brəʊɡ /

noun

1. a sturdy walking shoe, often with ornamental perforations
2. an untanned shoe worn formerly in Ireland and Scotland

brogue

²

/ brəʊɡ /

noun

1. a broad gentle-sounding dialectal accent, esp that used by the Irish in speaking English

Other Words From

• broguer·y noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of brogue¹

First recorded in 1700–10; of uncertain origin; perhaps special use of brogue ²

Origin of brogue²

First recorded in 1580–90; from Irish Gaelic, Scots Gaelic brōg “shoe, brogue, sandal,” from Old Irish brōce; cognate with Latin brācae “trousers”(typically worn by Celts), from Gaulish; breech

Origin of brogue³

First recorded in 1530–40; of uncertain origin

Word History and Origins

Origin of brogue¹

C16: from Irish Gaelic bróg boot, shoe, probably from Old Norse brōk leg covering

Origin of brogue²

C18: probably from brogue ², alluding to the footwear of the peasantry

Example Sentences

If the little voice inside your head has recently taken on a new accent — specifically a rolling Scottish brogue — it's likely that you're not alone.

From Salon

Another prospective juror was of Irish descent — he had a faint brogue — and talked about his past as a waiter and how he liked the outdoors.

From New York Times

“He’d put on an Irish brogue,” she said, “that he kind of adopted from his grandparents.”

From Seattle Times

Malachy McCourt, who fled a melancholic childhood in Ireland for America, where he applied his blarney and brogue to become something of a professional Irishman as a thespian, a barkeep and a best-selling memoirist, died on Monday in Manhattan.

From New York Times

Still, the book’s incantatory rhythms cast a Joycean spell, a 350-page fever dream written in blood and brogue.

From New York Times

Related Words

• accent
• dialect
• expression
• jargon
• prose
• sound
• speech
• style
• terminology
• vocabulary
• voice
• word
• wording