sandal

¹ American  

[san-dl] / ˈsæn dl /

noun

1. a shoe consisting of a sole of leather or other material fastened to the foot by thongs or straps.

2. any of various low shoes or slippers.

3. a light, low, rubber overshoe covering only the front part of a woman's high-heeled shoe.

4. a band or strap that fastens a low shoe or slipper on the foot by passing over the instep or around the ankle.

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verb (used with object)

sandaled, sandaling, sandalled, sandalling

1. to furnish with sandals.

sandal ² American  

[san-dl] / ˈsæn dl /

noun

1. sandalwood.

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sandal British  

/ ˈsændəl /

noun

1. a light shoe consisting of a sole held on the foot by thongs, straps, etc

2. a strap passing over the instep or around the ankle to keep a low shoe on the foot

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Other Word Forms

• sandalled adjective
• unsandaled adjective
• unsandalled adjective

Etymology

Origin of sandal¹

1350–1400; < French sandale; replacing Middle English sandalie < Latin sandalium < Greek sandálion, equivalent to sándal ( on ) sandal + -ion diminutive suffix

Origin of sandal²

1350–1400; Middle English sandell < Medieval Latin sandalum < Late Greek sántalon, dissimilated variant of sándanon ≪ Sanskrit candana

Example Sentences

Your sandals slap against the sidewalk as cars whoosh by, sending waves of hot air that hit you one after the other.

From Literature

I like the idea that he was still a schoolboy wearing his shorts and his sandals, although I think that's ripping the proverbial out of it.

From BBC

Just know the beach will always draw them back to sunny Southern California as the three sat in the Redondo Union volleyball locker room wearing shorts, sandals and their MIT shirts.

From Los Angeles Times

I slide off my sandals, adding them to the shoe collection, and the three of us head into the living room.

From Literature

Dressed in a black T-shirt, sandals and jeans, he said he’s not going anywhere.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• moccasin
• shoe
• slipper