galosh

American  

[guh-losh] / gəˈlɒʃ /

Or galoshe,

noun

1. a waterproof overshoe, especially a high one.

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Etymology

Origin of galosh

1325–75; Middle English < Old French galoche, of obscure origin

Explanation

A galosh is a shoe you can wear on a rainy day. Galoshes are usually made of rubber, and sometimes slide on over your regular shoes. A galosh is one kind of wet-weather footwear, most often made from a stretchy kind of rubber so it can be slipped on to protect your shoes from getting damp. You're most likely to come across this word in its plural form, galoshes, since they come in a pair. Galosh comes from the Middle English, for a sort of clog, from gallica solea, "a Gallic sandal" in Latin.

Example Sentences

To Thurber's city editor, the pattern of a perfect lead for all stories whatsoever was: "John Holtsapple, 63, prominent Columbus galosh manufacturer, died of complications last night at his home, 396 N. Persimmon Blvd."

From Time Magazine Archive

But these guys aren't smooth criminals; they go nuts trying to put on a galosh or scrape the ice off their windshield.

From Time Magazine Archive

Instead of studying, the 16-year-old Teng got a job in a Paris galosh factory.

From Time Magazine Archive

Though shod with the useful galosh, I’m racked with rheumatical pain— I think that a Ballade is bosh!

From Bevis The Story of a Boy by Jefferies, Richard

The dictionaries refer to Spenser as using it under the form galage; and it occurs written galege, galosh, calosh, &c.

From Notes and Queries, Number 238, May 20, 1854 A Medium of Inter-communication for Literary Men, Artists, Antiquaries, Genealogists, etc by Various