FARTHINGALE, a case or hoop, originally of bent rods, but afterwards made of whalebone, upon which were hung the voluminous skirts of a woman's dress (a corruption of Span. ver dagado, from verdago, a rod or stick) . The fashion was intro duced into England from Spain in the i6th century. In its most exaggerated shape, at the beginning of the 17th century, the top of the farthingale formed a flat circular surface projecting at right angles to the bodice (see DRESS).