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When I saw a review of a book called “The Plimsoll Sensation”, I got terribly excited. Wow, somebody has written a whole book about what it feels like to be whacked with a plimsoll! But wait, why is the review in “The Observer”?..
Unfortunately, the book is not about the gym shoe you get smacked with, but about the person, Samuel Plimsoll. Apparently, he invented the “Plimsoll line” on a ship, that is, a line that shows how low a vessel can sit in the water while loaded. Hmm, fascinating. :-/
I wondered if he had also invented the proper plimsolls, you know, the shoes. He had not. But the connection is not entirely random, either!
Apparently, the plimsoll shoes are so called because ‘the band around the shoes that holds the two parts together reminded people of a ship’s Plimsoll line; sense perhaps reinforced by sound association with sole.’
Abel
May 29th, 2007 at 11:39 am
Your explanation of the reason why plimsoll shoes are so-called is clearly an urban myth that has been propagating on the web for years.
The true explanation is far more interesting. The Plimsoll line for shipping was a major contributor to improvements in safety. In the late 19th century, life for schoolmasters in girls’ public schools was becoming increasingly dangerous as gangs of young ladies ran riot. Formal birchings were all well and good, but there was a need for a way of meting out more immediate punishments.
One headmaster set about designing a new implement, to enable masters to up-end girls and whack them quickly and effectively. This was modelled on the traditional slipper, only with a tougher sole.
Remarkably, discipline improved almost immediately. The inventor presented his new item to the Headmasters’ Conference, and one delegate – from Eton, I believe – hailed his creativity by crying “Bravo, sir. You are to schoolmasters what Mr. Plimsoll was to sailors.” And so the name caught on.
Incidentally, it was only some years later that people realised that the new shoes could be manufactured in pairs, and worn in gyms, rather than simply being used for spanking as was the orginal intent.
Haron
May 29th, 2007 at 5:48 pm
Right.
You’re such a perv, darling
ken henderson
October 3rd, 2007 at 1:35 pm
i love old black lace up plimsolls with little bit of rubber on bottom saying jimsol