Hoof

Pronunciation

• IPA: /hÊŠf/, /huːf/
• enPR: hŏŏf
• Rhymes: -ÊŠf, -uːf

Origin

From Middle English, from Old English hōf, from Proto-Germanic *hōfaz (compare West Frisian/Dutch hoef, German Huf, Danish and Swedish hov), from Proto-Indo-European *ḱoph₂ós (compare Russian копыто 'hoof', копать 'to dig', Avestan 𐬯𐬀𐬟𐬀 (safa, "hoof"), Sanskrit शफ (śapháḥ, "hoof, claw")).

Noun

1. The tip of a toe of an ungulate such as a horse, ox or deer, strengthened by a thick keratin covering.
2. (slang) The human foot.
3. (geometry, dated) An ungula.

Full definition of hoof

Verb

1. To trample with hooves.
2. (colloquial) To walk.
3. (informal) To dance, especially as a professional.
4. (colloquial, football, transitive) to kick, especially to kick the football a long way downfield with little accuracy.

Synonyms

• (to kick) boot

Related terms

• hoofed
• hoofer
• hoof it
• horse's hoof
• on the hoof
• cloven hoof