subs. (common).—A foot. For synonyms, see CREEPERS.
1836. M. SCOTT, The Cruise of the Midge, p. 134. Contriving in their complex twirlifications not only to tread heavily on my toes with his own HOOFS, but to hop his partner repeatedly over the same unfortunate members.
1838. JAS. GRANT, Sketches in London, ch. vii., p. 213. He again put both his ugly HOOFS on it.
1864. C. F. BROWNE (‘Artemus Ward’), Among the Mormons [People’s ed.], p. 193. Waving their lily-white HOOFS in the dazzling waltz.
1892. SYDNEY WATSON, Wops the Waif, ch. iv., p. 5. ‘Teddy, look out, yer’ve got yer HOOF on my trotters!’
Verb (common).—To kick; e.g., TO HOOF (or TOE) ONE’S BUM; to ROOT (q.v. for synonyms). Hence TO HOOF OUT = to eject; to dismiss; to discharge; to decline to see.
TO HOOF IT (or TO PAD or BEAT THE HOOF), verb. phr. (common).—To walk; to ‘tramp it’; to run away. For synonyms, see AMPUTATE and SKEDADDLE. Hence HOOF-PADDING.
1596. SHAKESPEARE, Merry Wives of Windsor, i. 3.
| Rogues, hence, avaunt, vanish like hailstones, go: | |
| Trudge, plod, AWAY O’ THE HOOF. |
d. 1687. COTTON, Poems, ‘Epistle to the Earl of ———’ (CHALMERS, English Poets), vi., 736.
| Being then on foot, away I go, | |
| And BANG THE HOOF, incognito. |
c. 1696. B. E., A New Dictionary of the Canting Crew, s.v. HOOF IT or BEAT IT ON THE HOOF, to walk on Foot.
1691–2. WOOD, Athenæ Oxonienses, ii., 560. Landing at Liverpool, in Lancashire, they all BEATED IT ON THE HOOF thence to London.
1725. A New Canting Dictionary, s.v.
1772. CUMBERLAND, The Fashionable Lover, Prologue.
| I am a devil, so please you, and must HOOF | |
| Up to the poet yonder with this proof. |
1785. GROSE, A Classical Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue, s.v. HOOF. TO BEAT THE HOOF; to travel on foot. He HOOFED IT, or BEAT THE HOOF, every step of the way from Chester to London.
1813. J. and H. SMITH, Horace in London, ‘Hurly-Burly,’ p. 24. When hostile squadrons BEAT THE HOOF.
1837. DICKENS, Oliver Twist, ch. ix. Charley Bates expressed his opinion that it was time TO PAD THE HOOF.
1885. Detroit Free Press, 5 Sept., p. 1, c. 1. These busted theatrical people who are HOOFING IT back to Detroit. They come along at all hours of the day and night.
1888. LYNCH, A Mountain Mystery, ch. xviii. I s’posed he was tired out, and had got over watchin’ for tricks. So I HOOFED IT in.
1892. MILLIKEN, ’Arry Ballads, p. 70. Scenery’s all very proper, but where is the genuine pot who’d PAD THE ’OOF over the moors.
TO SEE ONE’S HOOK IN (a thing), verb. phr. (common).—To detect personal influence or interference in a matter.
1863. THACKERAY, The Roundabout Papers, ‘On Screens in Dining Rooms’ (1887, p. 58). I am informed by the same Newark correspondent that … I once said to a literary gentleman, who was possibly pointing to an anonymous article as his writing, ‘Ah! I thought I RECOGNISED YOUR HOOF IN IT.’
