brogue
1 Americannoun
-
an Irish accent in the pronunciation of English.
-
any strong regional accent.
noun
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a durable, comfortable, low-heeled shoe, often having decorative perforations and a wing tip.
-
a coarse, usually untanned leather shoe once worn in Ireland and Scotland.
noun
noun
-
a sturdy walking shoe, often with ornamental perforations
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an untanned shoe worn formerly in Ireland and Scotland
noun
Other Word Forms
Etymology
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; see also breech
Origin of brogue3
First recorded in 1530–40; of uncertain origin
Explanation
You may know of a brogue as a thick Irish accent, and that can help you remember another meaning: it's also a thick Irish shoe. Brogues are heavy, sturdy Irish shoes, and they're usually made from untanned hide. This is a working person's shoe: it's definitely not a fancy shoe or dress shoe. Brogues can also be called clodhoppers or brogans. If someone's coming from behind you in brogues, you're likely to hear them. It's almost impossible to tiptoe in brogues.
Vocabulary lists containing brogue
100 Words to Make You Sound Smart
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Pygmalion
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The Sword of Summer
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Vincent Walsh steals every scene he’s in as Sweeney’s henchman Eddie Breen, a lethal type with a brogue, slouch cap and his mouth half open most of the time.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jul. 10, 2026
Virgo's voice came with a sing-song tempo, rising and falling in that familiar brogue.
From BBC • Feb. 4, 2026
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 • Apr. 24, 2024
Still, the book’s incantatory rhythms cast a Joycean spell, a 350-page fever dream written in blood and brogue.
From New York Times • Jan. 13, 2024
The words were spoken in a deep voice filled with salt water and brogue.
From "Moon Over Manifest" by Clare Vanderpool
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
