Canvas shoes with a rubber sole.
Plimsolls
Example Sentences
"That's a proper Plimsolls, that is."
"I've never seen such a Plimsolls in all my life."
Etymology & History
British term for canvas sports shoes (sneakers). Named after Plimsoll line (ship's waterline marking) - rubber sole resembled waterline. 1870s onward. Americans use 'sneakers'. Regional British variations include 'daps', 'pumps', 'trainers'.
Word Details
📍
Region
General British
📅
Era
Modern
✓
Language
Mild
💬
Formality
Informal
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Anglotopia's Dictionary of British English 2nd Edition
British Slang from A to Zed
By Jonathan Thomas
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