cloven hoof
noun
1
: a foot (as of a sheep) divided into two parts at its distal extremity
2
[from the traditional representation of Satan as cloven-hoofed]
: the sign of devilish character
Examples of cloven hoof in a Sentence
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Leaving cloven hoof prints from the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta to the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, more than 3,500 musk oxen live in Alaska.
—
Ned Rozell,
Anchorage Daily News,
3 July 2021
Their bodies are built for harsh desert conditions, from their cloven hooves and extra-long eyelashes to their cactus-chewing mouths.
—
Elaina Zachos,
National Geographic,
30 May 2018
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Ned Rozell,
Anchorage Daily News,
3 July 2021
Their bodies are built for harsh desert conditions, from their cloven hooves and extra-long eyelashes to their cactus-chewing mouths.
—
Elaina Zachos,
National Geographic,
30 May 2018
Cite this Entry
“Cloven hoof.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cloven%20hoof. Accessed 6 Jul. 2026.
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