espadrille

American  

[es-puh-dril] / ˈɛs pəˌdrɪl /

noun

1. a flat shoe with a cloth upper, a rope sole, and sometimes lacing that ties around the ankle.

2. a casual shoe resembling this, often with a wedge heel instead of a flat sole.

---

espadrille British  

/ ˌɛspəˈdrɪl /

noun

1. a light shoe with a canvas upper, esp with a braided cord sole

---

Etymology

Origin of espadrille

1860–65; < French < Provençal espardilho, diminutive of espart esparto

Explanation

An espadrille is a casual summer shoe that's made of cotton canvas with a rope sole. Espadrilles are easy to slip on and kick off. Espadrilles are a lightweight shoe with a flat sole made of ropy fibers. The upper part of an espadrille is sturdy canvas, often brightly colored or striped. Espadrilles were originally made in the Pyrenees, and there are shops in Spain that have been producing the sandals for over a hundred years. The names comes from the Catalan espardenya, "a type of shoes made with espart," a wiry grass used to make rope.

Example Sentences

The shoe of the season is an unfussy espadrille, substituting the sneaker of recent seasons, and which Armani himself wore, showing them off with an ironic laugh.

From Seattle Times • Jun. 20, 2022

“And the ankle wrap espadrille really evokes classic French style reminiscent of traits from our collection,” she said.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 13, 2018

For more than six months, there lay, in the restaurant’s cramped subterranean office, a single wedge espadrille on its side.

From The Guardian • Apr. 17, 2016

“I thought that would give the whole collection a different twist, just to have the espadrille, which is THE Spanish shoe,” Copping said.

From Washington Times • Sep. 15, 2015

It was cold out, but she wore platform espadrille sandals: house slippers, she explained, so that she can be as tall as Miral.

From New York Times • Mar. 23, 2011

Related Words

• moccasin
• shoe
• slipper