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Noun
In Ruidoso, New Mexico, the pounding hooves of racehorses have entranced crowds from across Texas and New Mexico every summer, pumping in millions of dollars from the All-American Derby, Oaks and Futurity races and the steady hum of seasonal jobs that carry this mountain village.—Alaa Elassar, CNN Money, 1 Oct. 2025 The animals' fur and expressions, even down to the dirt on Wilbur's hooves, looks real.—Devonne Goode, Parents, 1 Oct. 2025
Verb
As top-tier sports continue to flee pay-TV like so many panicky horses hoofing their way out of a burning stable, the WNBA is nosing around for oats among the haybales as the sparks fly skyward.—Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 3 Oct. 2025 One of Wilson’s focuses was a substantial investment in the ventilation system, which hoofs up smoke like a super-charged Dyson.—William Goodman, Robb Report, 1 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for hoof
Word History
Etymology
Noun
Middle English, from Old English hōf; akin to Old High German huof hoof, Sanskrit śapha
First Known Use
Noun
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
: a covering of horn that protects the front of or encloses the ends of the toes of some mammals (as horses, oxen, and pigs) and that corresponds to a nail or claw
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