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Did you expect brogue to be defined as "an Irish accent"? You're probably not alone; however, brogue has two homographs (words that are spelled—and, in this case, pronounced—the same but have different origins or parts of speech). Today we're featuring brogue, the shoe, which comes from the Irish word bróg and probably derives from an Old Norse term meaning "leg covering." Brogue, the accent, comes from a different Irish word, barróg, which means "accent" or "speech impediment."
Examples of brogue in a Sentence
Hannah Malach, WWD, 4 Nov. 2024
Underneath the dress, Hahn sported platform brogue heels in a patent leather, which added mega height.
—Christian Allaire, Vogue, 29 Oct. 2024
But when the Shelby family's gang mistakenly steals a crate of weapons meant for Libya, Winston Churchill sends Major Chester Campbell (Sam Neill), a law enforcer with a Belfast brogue, to straighten things out alongside Grace Burgess, a charming Irish spy (Annabelle Wallis).
—Charley Locke, WIRED, 6 July 2016
For McArdle — a Scotsman best known for his work on stage and TV, here adopting a convincing Irish brogue — his first big-screen lead announces him as a thinking person’s charmer in the approximate mold of Andrew Scott.
—Guy Lodge, Variety, 22 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for brogue 
Articles Related to brogue
Dictionary Entries Near brogue
Cite this Entry
“Brogue.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/brogue. Accessed 25 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
brogue
2 of 2 nounNoun
from Irish bróg and Scottish Gaelic bròg "stout shoe," derived from an early Norse word meaning "leg covering"
Noun
Irish barróg "accent, speech impediment," literally, "wrestling grip, tight hold"
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