The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #84451 Message #3203519
Posted By: Crowhugger
07-Aug-11 - 05:40 PM
Thread Name: Lyr Req: When First I Came to Caledonia
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: When First I Came to Caledonia
Some more diversion on the word "brochan"...
Growing up in Ottawa in the 60's and 70's, which valley area was much settled by Scots, the word "brogans" (or "brogues" for short)--the g pronounced lightly but still an anglicized ch--meant as John MacKenzie said above (08 Sep 05 - 01:11 PM): "...stout shoes with a pierced pattern overlay on the toe and heel, sometimes around the lace holes too". Throughout Ottawa stores, the pierced pattern was nearly always (rather than sometimes) included around the lace holes. My father wore them to work as a teacher and school principal, and while they were sturdy with very good support, they were not so stout in appearance as to look out of place with a suit. I would expect any shoe seller in Ontario to bring out exactly that kind of shoe if you asked for brogans.