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hobnailed

American  
[hob-neyld] / ˈhɒbˌneɪld /

adjective

  1. furnished with hobnails.

  2. rustic or loutish.


Etymology

Origin of hobnailed

First recorded in 1590–1600; hobnail + -ed 3

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Mystery surrounds the appearance of hundreds of Victorian hobnailed shoes which have washed ashore on a beach.

From BBC • Dec. 23, 2025

Mallory and Irvine, wearing wool and gabardine, hobnailed leather boots and homemade oxygen sets, disappeared into a swirling cloud on that fateful day, never to be seen alive again.

From Salon • Apr. 8, 2022

“We had antiquated equipment, armored cars that you could probably shoot arrows through. We wore uniforms made of bull’s wool and hobnailed boots.”

From Time • Jul. 27, 2016

And Whymper and Carrel accomplished the feat using hemp ropes and wearing hobnailed leather boots and tweeds.

From National Geographic • Jul. 14, 2015

"The Time Is Now . . ." the sign across the river began, but with history stomping upon me with hobnailed boots, I thought with a laugh, why worry about time?

From "Invisible Man" by Ralph Ellison

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