farthingale

noun

far·thin·gale | \ ˈfär-t͟hən-ˌgāl ,

-t͟hiŋ- \

Definition of farthingale

: a support (as of hoops) worn especially in the 16th century beneath a skirt to expand it at the hipline

Examples of farthingale in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Freed from the hassle of manipulating doublets and farthingales, the performers can move naturally and easily. — James Jorden, New York Times, "Finally, a Well-Staged ‘Don Giovanni’ in New York," 11 Aug. 2017 The bright and complex costumes, with some characters in apparel like Elizabethan farthingales, are equally picturesque. — Alastair Macaulay, New York Times, "Dance This Fall: Indian Mythology and Ballets by Women," 15 Sep. 2016

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'farthingale.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.