Definify.com

Webster 1913 Edition

Noun.

[OE.

vardingale

fardingale

, fr. OF.

vertugale

verdugade

, F.

vertugade

vertugadin

, from Sp.

verdugado

, being named from its hoops, fr.

verdugo

a young shoot of tree, fr.

verde

green, fr. L.

viridis

. See

A hoop skirt or hoop petticoat, or other light, elastic material, used to extend the petticoat.

We’ll revel it as bravely as the best, . . .
With ruffs and cuffs, and

farthingales

and things.

Shakespeare

Noun.

[This is a compound word, but it is not easy to analyze it.]

A hoop petticoat; or circles of hoops, formed of whalebone, used to extend the petticoat.