smallwood n Attrib smallwood boot: leather boot, worn esp by fishermen; TONGUE BOOT.
[c1885] 1973 SMALLWOOD 22-3 They were made mostly by hand and in three styles; one came well above the ankles, the other came up to the knees, and the third pretty well to the thighs... Verses were printed on cards and distributed in large quantities, and they came to be very well known. I remember one: Smallwood's Boots are the best of leather, / Smallwood's Boots they suit all weather, / Smallwood's Boots they are so grand, / They are the best in Newfoundland! T 84-64 There was all Smallwood boots then, for fishin' boots, all Smallwood boots, no rubbers. T 191-65 An' they'd wear what they call the half leg boots, you know. They're hard leather boots—that was before, just before the Smallwood boots came out; and the moleskin clothes, an' the swanskin cuffs, you know. So they were well fitted, and ... they could stand up to a pretty good storm. M 70-15 Another type of boot worn a great deal by fishermen was known as the 'three-quarters' or the 'smallwood' boot (named after the St John's manufacturer). It was made of very heavy leather, and when well greased with cod-oil it was waterproof. 1975 BUTLER 89 I was wearing knee high Smallwood boots, and I unstrapped my oilskins from my suitcase and put them on.
