They're worn by farmers, festival-goers and gardeners. Children wear them to splash in puddles. The story of Wellington boots - made from rubber and cloth - began more than 200 years ago, in England.
Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington, was a British military hero and prime minister. He once said that a soldier must have "a pair of good shoes". In the early 1800s, Wellington wore German "Hessian boots". His shoemaker adapted them to a shorter, closer fit, with a low heel. They became known as "Wellington boots".
In 1856, after the invention of vulcanized rubber, two US entrepreneurs founded a business in Edinburgh, producing rubber boots and goods. The company, now known as Hunter, has two royal warrants.
Today, there are millions of imitation Wellingtons - some designed to keep your feet dry, some to make them look good. Empty or filled with water, wellies also make appearances at welly-throwing contests held each year at fetes and festivals around Britain.
| Word | Translation | Phonetics | SearchStrings |
|---|---|---|---|
| adapt sth. | etw. anpassen | ||
| cloth | Stoff | cloth | |
| entrepreneur | Unternehmer(in) | [ˌɒntrƏprəˈnɜː] | entrepreneurs |
| heel | Absatz | heel | |
| Hessian boot | Armeestiefel, Reitstiefel | [ˈhesiən ˌbuːt] | Hessian boots |
| puddle | Pfütze | puddles | |
| royal warrant | Privileg als königliche(r) Hoflieferant(in) | [ˈwɒrƏnt] | royal warrants |
| vulcanize | vulkanisieren |