n.
Pronunciation: ' hu ̇ f, ' hüf
Function: noun
Inflected Form: plural hooves \ ' hüvz, ' hu ̇ vz \ also hoofs
Etymology: Middle English, from Old English h ō f; akin to Old High German huof hoof, Sanskrit ś apha
Date: before 12th century
1 : a curved covering of horn that protects the front of or encloses the ends of the digits of an ungulate mammal and that corresponds to a nail or claw
2 : a hoofed foot especially of a horse
– on the hoof
of a meat animal : before butchering : LIVING <90 ¢ a pound on the hoof >
hoof 2: 1, 2, 3, 4 parts of wall ( 1 toe, 2 side walls, 3 quarters, 4 buttresses), 5 bulbs, 6 sole, 7 frog