1911 Encyclopædia Britannica/Sandal

SANDAL (from the Latinized form of Gr. σανδάλιον, or σάνδαλον: this probably represents the Persian sandal, slipper; it is not to be referred to Gr. σανίς, board), the foot-covering which consists of a sole of leather or other material attached to the sole of the foot by a thong of leather passing between the great and second toe, crossed over the instep and fastened round the ankle (see Shoe and Costume, section Greek and Roman). Sandals are only worn regularly among the peoples of Western civilization by friars, though forms of them are found among the peasants in Spain and the Balkans. They have in recent times been adopted by the extreme advocates of hygienic dress, especially for young children. In the early part of the 19th century a form of low, light slipper fastened by a ribbon crossed over the instep and round the ankle, and worn by women, was known as a sandal.