farthingale
noun
far·thin·gale
ˈfär-t͟hən-ˌgāl 
-t͟hiŋ-
: 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
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Nevertheless, panniers, or hooped petticoats undergirding the hips, and their 16th- and 17th-century relatives, farthingales, stepped out of the history books and onto the spring runways.
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Véronique Hyland, ELLE, 21 Mar. 2023
Heavily influenced by key members of the English royal court, Tudor style is distinguished for its square neckline and structured bodices, as well as the Spanish farthingale, a conical undergarment that gave volume to skirts.
—Frances Solá-Santiago, refinery29.com, 23 Sep. 2021
The photograph showcases Diana in traditional Elizabethan dress, including a full skirt with a farthingale underneath and a high starched collar, a more casual version of a ruff.
—Maureen Lee Lenker, EW.com, 5 Sep. 2019
Freed from the hassle of manipulating doublets and farthingales, the performers can move naturally and easily.
—James Jorden, New York Times, 11 Aug. 2017
The bright and complex costumes, with some characters in apparel like Elizabethan farthingales, are equally picturesque.
—Alastair MacAulay, New York Times, 15 Sep. 2016
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Véronique Hyland, ELLE, 21 Mar. 2023
Heavily influenced by key members of the English royal court, Tudor style is distinguished for its square neckline and structured bodices, as well as the Spanish farthingale, a conical undergarment that gave volume to skirts.
—Frances Solá-Santiago, refinery29.com, 23 Sep. 2021
The photograph showcases Diana in traditional Elizabethan dress, including a full skirt with a farthingale underneath and a high starched collar, a more casual version of a ruff.
—Maureen Lee Lenker, EW.com, 5 Sep. 2019
Freed from the hassle of manipulating doublets and farthingales, the performers can move naturally and easily.
—James Jorden, New York Times, 11 Aug. 2017
The bright and complex costumes, with some characters in apparel like Elizabethan farthingales, are equally picturesque.
—Alastair MacAulay, New York Times, 15 Sep. 2016
Cite this Entry
“Farthingale.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/farthingale. Accessed 29 Jul. 2025.
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