Mukluk

Pronunciation

• Canada IPA: /ˈmÊŒklÊŒk/
• US IPA: /ˈmÉ™klÉ™k/

Alternative forms

• mackaluck, muck-a-luck, muckluck, muck-luck, muckluk, mucluc, muklek

Origin

From Central Siberian Yupik maklak ("bearded seal"), referring to sealskin used to make boots.

Full definition of mukluk

Noun

1. (Canada, US) A soft knee-high boot of sealskin or reindeer skin, originally worn by Inuit and Yupik.
• 1898, Medicine Hat News, December 8, p 5:Her parkee, made of Caribou, it is a lovely fit, / And she's all right from muck-a-luck unto her dainty mit. / This lovely Klooch is fond of Hooch, and makes it very well.
2. (Canada, US) A laced winter boot resembling a traditional mukluk, with thick rubber sole and cloth upper.
• 1966, Kingston Whig-Standard, April 27, p 26:... the Canadians’ soldiers’ mukluks and sleeping bags were superior to anything in use. the mukluk, a rubber-soled boot with a calf-high outer nylon cover, has a thick woollen inner boot that keeps feet warm in the coldest of weather.
• 2004, Paola Gianturco, Celebrating Women:The skin is used to make mukluks, hats, parkas. We are resourceful and respectful of the animals, the land.

Synonyms

• Eskimo boot
• mukluk boot
• snowshoe, snow shoe

Derived terms

• mukluked
• mukluk telegraph
• mukluk wireless