How Do You Spell POULAINE?

Pronunciation: [pˈuːle͡ɪn] (IPA)

The spelling of the word "Poulaine" can be a bit confusing for English speakers. It is pronounced "poo-layn" and is often written as "polaine" or "poleyn." The word refers to a long pointed shoe that was popular in the Middle Ages. The spelling comes from the French word "poulaine," which means "elongated shoe." In IPA phonetic transcription, the word would be written as /puːleɪn/ to accurately reflect its pronunciation. To remember the spelling, think of the long "ou" sound in "poo-layn."

POULAINE Meaning and Definition

1. Poulaine is a term primarily used to describe a type of shoe fashion that was popular in the 14th and 15th centuries. The term originated from the French word "pole", meaning beak or nose, and was derived from the distinctly pointed and elongated toe characteristic of these shoes.

   The poulaine was typically made of leather and featured an exaggerated, elongated toe that extended several inches beyond the natural size of the foot. This elongation was achieved by inserting a wooden or metal extension at the tip of the shoe. The length of the poulaine's toe was often seen as a status symbol, with longer lengths reserved for the elite classes, while shorter ones were more common among the general population.

   The poulaine fashion trend began in medieval Europe and gained popularity across various social classes. However, it faced critique and regulations at times due to its extreme lengths, seen as extravagant and impractical. There were even instances of laws being passed to limit the toe length of poulaines.

   Despite its popularity during that era, the poulaine's exaggerated toe design eventually fell out of fashion by the end of the 15th century. Today, the term poulaine is primarily used in historical and fashion contexts to describe this specific style of shoe from medieval times.

Common Misspellings for POULAINE

• ooulaine
• loulaine
• -oulaine
• 0oulaine
• piulaine
• pkulaine
• plulaine
• ppulaine
• p0ulaine
• p9ulaine
• poylaine
• pohlaine
• pojlaine
• poilaine
• po8laine
• po7laine
• poukaine
• poupaine
• pouoaine
• poulzine

Etymology of POULAINE

The word "poulaine" originated in the 14th century and referred to a long-pointed shoe or boot worn in Europe. Its etymology can be traced back to the Old French term "polaine". The origin of "polaine" is uncertain, but it may have derived from the Old Provençal word "pol" or "poul", which meant a bird's beak or claw. This is likely due to the resemblance of the shoe's pointed toe to the shape of a bird's beak or claw. Over time, "polaine" transformed into "poulaine" in Middle English before eventually falling out of use.