understandings
Preserved but no longer current.
Meaning · English
The feet or boots. Men who wear exceptionally large or thick boots, are said to possess good UNDERSTANDINGS.
Era: ca. 1874 (Victorian)
Where it’s used:
Origin
British & Irish English
Sources & notes
Historical definition reproduced from Hotten’s The Slang Dictionary (1874, public domain; Project Gutenberg #42108, retrieved 2026-07-31). Reflects the attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “understandings” mean?
The feet or boots. Men who wear exceptionally large or thick boots, are said to possess good UNDERSTANDINGS.
Is “understandings” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.