Brogans
/ˈbroʊ.ɡənz/noun
Sturdy, heavy shoes or ankle boots, especially work shoes.
Did you know?The word is tied to Brogan, a Gaelic personal name and surname, and English borrowed it as a term for rough, durable shoes—proof that even everyday footwear can carry old clan-history energy.
Etymological Timeline
Gaelic / Irish
Goidelic
Ó Brógáin / Brógán
“A surname and personal name associated with the root that later gave English the shoe term.”
Early 19th Century
English
brogan
“A coarse, heavy shoe, especially one worn for work or military use.”
19th Century
English
brogans
“Plural form used for sturdy shoes or boots.”
Modern English
English
brogans
“Heavy, practical shoes or boots.”