Brogues

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This article is about the shoe. For the accent, see Brogue.

Brogues, often called wingtips in the USA, are low-heeled shoes that are made of heavy and untanned leather, said to have originated in Scotland and Ireland. Brogue also refers to Oxford shoes that have fringe or wing tips. The term wingtip derives from the toe cap pattern, which forms a W and resembles the profile of a spread bird wing. [1] The term brogue also survived in American English as the term "Brogans" in the Appalachian and Southern dialects. [2]

Ghillie Brogues, or Ghillies, are also a type of shoe with laces along the instep and no tongue, especially those used for Scottish country dancing. Although now worn for dancing and social events, ghillies originated as a shoe that would drain water and dry quickly due to the lack of a tongue, and not get stuck in the mud because of their laces above the ankle.

Brogues are considered traditional men's dress shoes, although less formal than the plain or decorated cap-toe oxford. They are usually laced, although sometimes the design is applied to loafers or to women's shoes.

The word "brogue" is derived from the Gàidhlig (Scottish Gaelic) word bròg meaning "shoe". The plural ("shoes") is "brògan".