square-toes

[skwair-tohz]

noun

(used with a singular verb)

1. an old-fashioned or strait-laced person.

Word History and Origins

Origin of square-toes¹

First recorded in 1765–75

Example Sentences

He paused between photo shoots and looked down at his black leather square-toes.

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"I should not have come up, but that I saw that Square-toes there smuggle out the girl, and as no one was looking it seemed natural to follow."

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Come, ould square-toes, take a thimbleful of it, and maybe it'll lead you to a better understanding.

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They have stated that the Rugby undergraduates they remember at the Universities were "a solemn array," "boys turned into men before their time," "a semi-political, semi-sacerdotal fraternity," &c., giving the idea that Arnold turned out a set of young square-toes, who wore long-fingered black gloves and talked with a snuffle.

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On he walked towards Bayswater; and finding that it was yet early, and considering that the farther he went from town the better prospect there would be of his being able, with little sacrifice of appearances, to get a dinner consistent with the means he carried about with him, viz. one shilling, he pursued his way a mile or two beyond Bayswater; and, sure enough, came at length upon a nice little public-house on the roadside, called the Square-toes Arms.

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