hobnail

American  

[hob-neyl] / ˈhɒbˌneɪl /

noun

1. a large-headed nail for protecting the soles of heavy boots and shoes.

2. a small allover pattern consisting of small tufts, as on fabrics, or of small studs, as on glass.

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hobnail British  

/ ˈhɒbˌneɪl /

noun

1. 1. a short nail with a large head for protecting the soles of heavy footwear

   2. ( as modifier )

      hobnail boots

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Other Word Forms

• hobnailed
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of hobnail

First recorded in 1585–95; hob ¹ + nail

Example Sentences

The camera pans out to reveal piles of the very latest style of boot – the Adidas Stan Seymour Hobnail Soccer And Deep Pit Mining Shoe – sitting before him.

From The Guardian • Dec. 7, 2010

Hobnail boots, ropes and alpenstocks were piled into the back of the royal Packard touring car beside the chauffeur.

From Time Magazine Archive

It was from no less a person than Mr Hobnail, who had taken a great fancy to him.

From The Three Midshipmen by Prout, Victor

Hobnail Footwear.—Most any boot or shoe can be used for wading the trout streams, but a special selection is always best for every sort of purpose.

From The Determined Angler and the Brook Trout an anthological volume of trout fishing, trout histories, trout lore, trout resorts, and trout tackle by Bradford, Charles Barker