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Did you expect brogue to be defined as "an Irish accent"? You're probably not alone; however, brogue has two homographs (words that are spelled—and, in this case, pronounced—the same but have different origins or parts of speech). Today we're featuring brogue, the shoe, which comes from the Irish word bróg and probably derives from an Old Norse term meaning "leg covering." Brogue, the accent, comes from a different Irish word, barróg, which means "accent" or "speech impediment."
Examples of brogue in a Sentence
Michael Stefanov, Robb Report, 1 Apr. 2024
The show played a video clip capturing the filmmaker and the musician in character, talking with a Scottish brogue.
—Erin Clack, Peoplemag, 22 Nov. 2023
In a world seemingly populated by all the varieties of lilts and brogues the British Isles has to offer, the flat, near-toneless Midwestern newscaster voice of Seanchan so'jhin Alwhin (Jessica Boone) instructing the townspeople to kneel and pledge actually hit pretty hard.
—Andrew Cunningham & Lee Hutchinson, Ars Technica, 1 Sep. 2023
Its product offering doesn’t conform to designs typical of an English shoemaker—don’t expect to find run-of-the-mill brogues.
—Benedict Browne, Robb Report, 2 Jan. 2024
Cox used his Scottish brogue to tell the story of someone imagining their own death.
—Jonathan Edwards, Washington Post, 14 Dec. 2023
Fraser, a 52-year-old life-long resident of Edinburgh with a lilting brogue, is an obsessive genealogist and historian who can help those with Scottish ancestry trace their roots and choose tartans that match their family heritage.
—Ross Kenneth Urken, Condé Nast Traveler, 17 Nov. 2023
Brosnan speaks with an accent that’s a fusion of his own silvery brogue and a gruff drawl.
—Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 13 Oct. 2023
While mulling the menu, Abbott responded with an exaggerated Italian accent when Plaza assumed one, later testing aloud his gruff Bronx brogue for the play.
—Julia Jacobs, New York Times, 13 Sep. 2023
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'brogue.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Brogue.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/brogue. Accessed 18 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
brogue
2 of 2 nounNoun
from Irish bróg and Scottish Gaelic bròg "stout shoe," derived from an early Norse word meaning "leg covering"
Noun
Irish barróg "accent, speech impediment," literally, "wrestling grip, tight hold"
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