'espadrille' originates from French, specifically the word 'espadrille', where 'esparto' referred to a type of grass used in making the soles.

'espadrille' changed from the Catalan word 'espardenya' and eventually became the modern English word 'espadrille'.

Initially, it referred to a type of shoe made with esparto grass, but over time it evolved into its current meaning of a light canvas shoe with a plaited fiber sole.