(Vol. ix., p. 304.)
This word, SELEUCUS says, "is of course of American derivation." By no
means: it is found in German, _gallosche_ or _gallusche_; and in French,
_galoche_ or _galloche_. The word itself most likely comes to us from the
French. The dictionaries refer to Spenser as using it under the form
_galage_; and it occurs written _galege_, _galosh_, _calosh_, &c. The
French borrowed the term from the Latin _Gallicae_; but the Romans first
derived the idea and the thing itself from Gaul, _Gallicae_ denoting Gallic
or Gaulish shoes. Cicero speaks of the _Gallicae_ with contempt.--"Cum
calceis et toga, nullis nec _gallicis_ nec lacerna;" and again, "Cum
_gallicis_ et lacerna cucurristi" (_Philip._ ii. 30.). Blount, in his _Law
Dictionary_ (1670), gives the following, which refers to one very early use
of the term in this country:
"GALEGE (_galiciae_), from the French _galloches_, which signified of
old a certain shoe worn by the Gauls in foul weather, _as at present
the signification with us does not much differ_. It is mentioned 4 Edw.
IV. cap. 7., and 14 & 15 Hen. VIII. cap. 9."
Therefore the thing itself and the word were known among us before America
was discovered. As it regards the Latin word _Gallicae_, I only know of its
use by Cicero, Tertullian, and A. Gellius. The last-named, in the _Noctes
Atticae_, gives the following anecdote and observations relating to this
word. T. Castricius, a teacher of rhetoric at Rome, observing that some of
his pupils were, on a holiday, as he deemed, unsuitably attired, and shod
(_soleati_) with _gallicae_ (_galloches_, _sabots_, wooden shoes or clogs),
he expressed in strong terms his disapprobation. He stated it to be
unworthy of their rank, and referred to the above-cited passage from
Cicero. Some of his hearers inquired why he called those _soleati_ who wore
goloshes (_gallicae_) and not shoes (_soleae_). The expression is justified
by a statement which sufficiently describes the goloshes, viz., that they
call _soleae_ (shoes) all those which cover only the lower portions of the
foot, and are fastened with straps. The author adds:
"I think that _gallicae_ is a new word, which was begun to be used not
long before Cicero's time, therefore used by him in the Second of the
_Antonians_. 'Cum gallicis,' says he, 'et lacerna cucurristi.' Nor do I
read it in any other writer of authority, but other words are
employed."
The Romans named shoes after persons and places as we do: for examples, see
Dr. W. Smith's _Dictionary of Greek and Roman Antiquities_, sub voc.
"Calceus."