French heel

American  

noun

1. a high, curved heel, characterized by a heel breast curving into a shank, used on women's shoes.

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French heel British  

noun

1. a fairly high and narrow-waisted heel on women's shoes

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Other Word Forms

• French-heeled
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of French heel

First recorded in 1655–65

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

French heel

One flat shoe and one French heel make a poor pair.

From The Love Affairs of Pixie by Vaizey, George de Horne, Mrs.

After the devil had made all the trouble for woman he could with the fig leaf, he introduced the French heel.

From An Ambitious Man by Wilcox, Ella Wheeler

In the strong sun a film of soft earth showed the impress of something quite like the pivoted French heel.

From Jane Allen, Junior by Bancroft, Edith

The rest walked upon clattering pattens, like a French heel set by the cobbler’s mistake at the instep.

From The Readjustment by Irwin, Will

I was just fishing for an opening to land when Wilbur stayed my upraised arm, and I could only give her a kick on the limb with my French heel.

From The Sorrows of a Show Girl by McGaffey, Kenneth