seven-league(d, a.
seven-league(d) boots [F. bottes de sept lieues], the boots in the fairy story of Hop o' my Thumb, which enabled the wearer to cover seven leagues at each step. Hence allusively = of enormous size or speed.
| 1793 W. B. Stevens Jrnl. 27 Feb. (1966) i. 70 Wrote to Dewe that I would put on my seven league boots next weekend and stretch my course to Appleby. 1799 Southey in Robberds Mem. W. Taylor (1843) I. 254 He has advanced with such seven-leagued strides as to overtake everybody. 1813 L. Hunt in Examiner 26 Apr. 262/2 Heaven grant he may not have put on his seven-league boots in vain! 1818 Scott Rob Roy iv, Giants with seven-leagued boots. 1826 ― Woodst. xxviii, Leave swelling phrase and seven-leagued words at home. 1849 Hawthorne Twice-told T., Mr. Higginbotham's Catastr., The stranger on foot must have worn seven-league boots, to travel at such a rate. 1855 Dickens Dorrit ii. xii, With a..rapid step, as if he wanted to get his seven-league dress-shoes on and go round the world. 1890 ‘R. Boldrewood’ Miner's Right (1899) 141/2 The sergeant strode forward with one of his characteristic seven-leagued movements. |
| Comb. 1864 A. J. Warden Linen Trade 240 The rapid progress in this seven-league-booted century. |