hoof

American  

[hoof, hoof] / hʊf, huf /

noun

plural

hoofs, hooves, hoof

1. the horny covering protecting the ends of the digits or encasing the foot in certain animals, as the ox and horse.

2. the entire foot of a horse, donkey, etc.

3. Older Use. a hoofed animal, especially one of a herd.

4. Informal. the human foot.

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verb (used with object)

1. Slang. to walk (often followed byit ).

   Let's hoof it to the supermarket.

verb (used without object)

1. Slang. to dance, especially to tap-dance.

   He's been hoofing at the Palladium.

idioms

1. on the hoof, (of livestock) not butchered; live.

   The city youngsters were seeing lambs on the hoof for the first time.

hoof British  

/ huːf /

noun

1. 1. the horny covering of the end of the foot in the horse, deer, and all other ungulate mammals

   2. ( in combination )

      a hoofbeat

2. the foot of an ungulate mammal

3. a hoofed animal

4. facetious a person's foot

5. 1. (of livestock) alive

   2. in an impromptu manner

      he did his thinking on the hoof

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verb

1. (tr) to kick or trample with the hoofs

2. slang

   1. to walk

   2. to dance

Other Word Forms

• hoofiness
  noun
• hoofless
  adjective
• hooflike
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of hoof

First recorded before 1000; Middle English (noun); Old English hōf; cognate with Old Frisian hōf, Dutch hoef, German Huf, Old Norse hōfr; compare Sanskrit śaphas

Explanation

A foot is to a human what a hoof is to a horse, a goat, or a giraffe. Each hoof protects the animal and helps it to walk and run. A hoof is made of keratin, just like your fingernails, but it tends to be thicker and harder since it has to bear the weight of the animal. Hoof can also be a verb that, surprisingly enough, applies to humans. Maybe you have offered someone a ride, only to be told, "No, I think I'll just hoof it," meaning walk or otherwise go on foot. Hoof is sometimes substituted for dance if the person doing it is getting paid.

Example Sentences

He shared the lamppost with Jeff Nathan, a student sportswriter who wrote a column for Marshall newspaper the Parthenon, regularly titled "Hoof Beats."

From Washington Post • Nov. 14, 2020

If the juice sits briefly with the skins before vinification, it develops a pale salmon color, so let’s call Hoof & Lur a rosé.

From New York Times • Jul. 10, 2020

“People know how traumatic the RSV experience was,” said Dr Johan Van Hoof, global head of Janssen Vaccines, J&J’s vaccine unit.

From Reuters • Mar. 11, 2020

On this episode of Women in Charge, Julia Turner talks to Jen Agg, the Toronto-based restaurateur, formerly of The Black Hoof and Agrikol, whose newest venture is a reimagined diner called Le Swan.

From Slate • Oct. 8, 2018

It was made some three days ago, at the Devil’s Hoof Tavern.

From Tales from "Blackwood," Volume 2 by Various

Related Words

• paw