Hoof, subs. (common).—A foot. For synonyms, see Creepers.
1836. M. Scott, 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. Grant, Sketches in London, p. 213. He again put both his ugly
hoofs on it.
1867. 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. Shakspeare, Merry Wives, i., 3. Rogues, hence, avaunt, vanish
like hailstones, go: Trudge, plod, away o’ the hoof.
d. 1687. Cotton, Poems, ‘Epistles’ (Chalmers English Poets), vi.,
736. Being then on foot away I go And bang the hoof incognito.
1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. 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. New Cant. Dict., s.v.
1772. Cumberland, Fashionable Lover. Prologue. I am a devil, so
please you, and must hoof Up to the poet yonder with this proof.
1785. Grose, Vulg. 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, 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 hoof in (a thing), verb. phr. (common).—To detect personal
influence or interference in a matter.
1863. Thackeray, Roundabout Papers, ‘On Screens in Dining Rooms’
(1887, p. 58). I am informed by the same New York 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.’
Hoof-padder, subs. (common).—A pedestrian.
Hoofy, adj. (common).—Splay (or large).
Hook, subs. (thieves’).—1. A finger. (Cf., Cunt-hooks). For synonyms,
see Fork. In plural = the hands. Also, Hooks and Feelers.
d. 1842. Maginn, Vidocq Versified. To his clies my hooks I throw
in.
1877. Five Years’ Penal Servitude, ch. iv., p. 259. I one day asked
a man ... if the hard work of prison did not spoil his hands for
delicate manipulations. ‘Oh, bless you, no!’ he replied; ‘... In a
week or two a man can bring his hooks and feelers into full working
trim again and no mistake.’
2. (thieves’).—A thief. Specifically, a pickpocket; a hooker (q.v.).
For synonyms, see Thieves.
1562. Jacke Juggler (Dodsley, Old Plays, 4th ed., 1875, ii., 139).
So, yonder cometh that unhappy hook.
1887. Horsley, Jottings from Jail. Take my tip and turn square,
from a hook who is going to be lagged, would be, in common
parlance, take my advice and get your living honestly.
1892. Anstey, Voces Populi (2nd Series). ‘In Trafalgar Square.’ A
professional hook.