Alpargata

/ˌælpərˈɡɑːtə/ noun

Definition

A light canvas shoe with a rope or cord sole, traditionally worn in Spain and Latin America.

Etymology

From Spanish 'alpargata,' possibly derived from Arabic 'al-' (the) combined with a word for rope or sole; reflects Spanish-Arabic contact during medieval Iberia.

Kelly Says

This humble shoe is essentially the Mediterranean ancestor of modern canvas sneakers—Spanish conquistadors and colonizers spread this practical footwear design across the Americas!

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