Forms: 6 farthyngall, 6–8 fardingal(l, 7 Sc. fartigal, 7–8 farthingal, 7– fard-, farthingale. β. 6–8 vardingal(e, 6 verdynggale, 7 verdingal(e, (vertingale, virdingal). [ad. OF. verdugale, vertugalle, corruption of Sp. verdugado a farthingale, f. verdugo rod, stick. (So called because distended by cane hoops or rods inserted underneath.)]
A frame-work of hoops, usually of whalebone, worked into some kind of cloth, formerly used for extending the skirts of women’s dresses; a hooped petticoat.
1552. Latimer, Serm. Gospels, iii. 166. I warrant you they had bracelets and verdynggales and such fine gere.
1607. Dekker, Westw. Hoe! I. Wks. 1873, II. 282. I wis this is better wit, then to learne how to weare a Scotch Farthingale: nay more.
1673. Ray, Journ. Low C., 499. The Women wear great Vardingales, standing so far out at each side, that to enter in at an ordinary door they are fain to go side-ways: when they go abroad are covered with a vail of black having only a hole left for one eye.
1753. L. M., trans. Du Boscq’s Accomplish’d Woman, I. 124–5. As I approve not of those who with too much curiosity look out for new fasions, I cannot esteem those who part with regret from their high-heads and vardingales.
1776. Foote, Bankrupt, II. Her majesty’s old fardingale is not more out of fashion.
1830. J. G. Strutt, Sylva Brit., 47. The maids of honour had just stripped off their fardingales, to prepare for a general romping.
1860. Reade, Cloister & H., I. 280. Whatever he was saying or doing, he stopped short at the sight of a farthingale.
attrib. 1711. J. Distaff, Char. Don. Sacheverelli, 4. A large Fardingale Petticoat.
Hence Farthingaled a., having a farthingale.
1873. Miss Broughton, Nancy, I. ii. 19. Mother, kneeling on the carpet beside him, like the faithful, ruffed and farthingaled wife on a fifteenth century tomb.
