Balmoral (Bal-Mor'-Al). A name given to various articles of dress, possessing unusual strength and weight. Specifically, a term applied to a variety of ladies' cheap cotton skirts, distinguished by not being furnished with a waist-band nor hemmed at the bottom. They were originally made of wool, dyed red with fancy black stripes, and intended to be displayed below the skirt of the dress, which was looped up. They were first worn by the daughters of Queen Victoria in 1860, during the visits to their royal residence at Balmoral, Scotland, hence the name. Balmoral boots or shoes are those that lace up in front, worn by both men and women; usually abbreviated in trade "bal." or "bals." [See Boots and Shoes]