noun
plimsoll
PLIM-sul/ˈplɪmsəl/
A light canvas shoe with a rubber sole.
The lightweight plimsoll has a canvas upper and a thin rubber sole.
Etymology
Samuel Plimsoll gave his name to a ship’s safe-loading line. The canvas shoe acquired the name because the band joining its upper and sole resembled that line around a ship’s hull.
More examples
- The canvas uppers of his plimsolls dry slowly.
- One plimsoll has a hole near the toe.
- I pack lightweight plimsolls for walking around town.
Forms
plimsoll · plimsolls
Similar words
- sneaker
- A broader term that includes athletic shoes made without canvas.
- tennis shoe
- Can mean a casual athletic shoe or specialized tennis footwear.