Meaning & use
galosh
Last updated
Meaning
nounusually plural
A waterproof rubber shoe or boot worn over ordinary shoes to keep them dry and clean in wet or muddy weather.
Grammar: Almost always plural, galoshes, like a pair of shoes: wear your galoshes.
Patterns
- a pair of galoshes
He slipped on his galoshes before stepping out into the slush.
She left her wet galoshes by the door.
Each galosh was too big for the child's small feet, but they kept her dry.
Word forms
| plural | galoshes |
|---|
Common combinations
- pair of galoshes
- I bought a pair of galoshes for the rainy season.
- rubber galoshes
- The rubber galoshes squeaked on the tile.
- put on galoshes
- Put on your galoshes before you walk through the puddles.
- take off galoshes
- Please take off your galoshes at the door.
- muddy galoshes
- The muddy galoshes were rinsed in the sink.
Synonyms and how they differ
- overshoes
- Overshoes is the general term for any protective shoe covering, and galoshes are a typical rubber kind.
- rubbers
- Rubbers is an old-fashioned American word for the same type of shoe cover, more casual than galoshes.
- wellies
- Wellies are full-length rubber boots worn on their own, not over other shoes.
- rain boots
- Rain boots are boots worn alone, whereas galoshes fit over regular footwear.
Commonly confused: galosh or gallows? galosh or galore?
galosh vs gallows
Gallows is a frame for hanging criminals, a different word despite the similar sound at the start.
galosh vs galore
Galore means in large numbers, and is unrelated to footwear.
Practice
A person wears galoshes mainly to
Choose one answer.
Galoshes go over ordinary shoes so they stay dry. They do not warm hands, carry food or show rank.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “galosh”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.