galligaskins
/ˌɡalɪˈɡaskɪnz
/plural noun British historical
Breeches, trousers, or gaiters.The galligaskins are made of leather, and worn under the irons to preserve the skin...
- Even the low-minded costermonger, to whom ‘wellingtons’ are objects of contempt and derision, and who laughs to scorn galligaskins and knickerbockers, evinces the national tendency for leather by stipulating for ‘anklejacks’ with ‘tongues’ ample enough to overlap the lacings by at least three inches.
- With this imagination he came to Sancho; having first taken Rozinante's reins, and so fitted them that he might lash him with them, he began to untruss his points: the opinion is, that he had but one before, which held up his galligaskins.
Origin
Late 16th century: perhaps an alteration (influenced by galley and Gascon) of obsolete French gargesque, from Italian grechesca, feminine of grechesco 'Greek'.