Did you expect brogue to be defined as "an Irish accent"? You're probably not alone; however, brogue has two homographs (words that are spelled—and, in this case, pronounced—the same but have different origins or parts of speech). Today we're featuring brogue, the shoe, which comes from the Irish word bróg and probably derives from an Old Norse term meaning "leg covering." Brogue, the accent, comes from a different Irish word, barróg, which means "accent" or "speech impediment."
Word History
Etymology
Noun (1)
Irish bróg & Scottish Gaelic bròg, from Middle Irish bróc, probably from Old Norse brōk leg covering; akin to Old English brōc leg covering — more at breech
Noun (2)
Irish barróg accent, speech impediment, literally, wrestling hold, tight grip