a.
† 1. Having ‘whole’ or undivided feet, i.e., with the toes united; web-footed, as a bird; rarely, solid-hoofed, as a quadruped. Obs.
13[?]. E. E. Allit. P., B. 538. Þe hole-foted fowle to þe flod hyȝez.
1513. Bk. Keruynge, in Babees Bk. (1868), 279. All maner hole foted fowles that haue theyr lyuyng vpon the water.
1607. Topsell, Four-f. Beasts, 32. The Asses of India … differ from all other whole-footed beasts.
1696. Jn. Edwards, Demonstr. & Exist. God, I. 193. [Water-fowl] are generally whole-footed.
1704. Ray, Creation (ed. 4), 147. Such Creatures as are whole-footed or fin-toed.
2. Treading with the whole foot on the ground, not lightly or on tip-toe.
a. 1825. Forby, Voc. E. Anglia, Whole-footed. 1. Treading flat and heavy, as if there were no joints in the feet.
1896. Wherry, Alpine Notes, 119. It has often been noticed in mountaineering that a guide can go face forward and whole-footed up a slope.
3. fig. Unreserved, frank, free and easy. colloq. or slang.
a. 1734. North, Life Dr. J. North (1744), 278. His chief Remissions were when some of his nearest Relations were with him,… and then, as they say, he was wholefooled.
a. 1825. Forby, Voc. E. Anglia, Whole-footed … 2. Very intimate; closely confederate.
