ghillie
Definition
Noun: 1. A type of shoe: A ghillie is a style of shoe, often a dress shoe or dancing shoe, characterized by having no tongue and decorative lacing that crisscrosses up the instep (the top part of the foot between the toes and the ankle). The laces are typically tied around the ankle.
Usage
The word "ghillie" is used specifically to describe this distinct style of footwear. It is a countable noun. * You wear a pair of ghillies. * The ghillie is known for its unique lacing system.
Examples
- Traditional Scottish ghillies are often worn for Highland dancing.
- He struggled to tie the long laces of his new ghillies.
- The ballet dancer's ghillies were perfectly broken in.
Advanced Usage
- The term can be used attributively (like an adjective) to describe other items designed in this laced style, such as "ghillie brogues" (a type of dress shoe) or "ghillie laces."
Variants and Related Words
- Ghillie brogue: A dress shoe, often with decorative perforations (brogueing), that uses the ghillie lacing style.
- Ghillie tie: A style of necktie where the ends are laced through a loop or ring, reminiscent of the shoe's lacing.
Synonyms
- There is no direct single-word synonym for this specific shoe style. It can be described as a laceless shoe or an ankle-laced shoe, but these are descriptive phrases, not synonyms.
Notes on Different Meanings
- Important Distinction: "Ghillie" has another, more common meaning, especially in Scottish English. It refers to a hunting or fishing guide. This meaning is entirely separate from the shoe meaning. The context of the sentence will always make it clear which is intended.
- Example (guide): The ghillie led the anglers to the best spot on the river.
- Example (shoe): She polished her dancing ghillies before the competition.
Noun
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a shoe without a tongue and with decorative lacing up the instep
