ˈcloven-ˌfooted, a.
Also 4–5 clove-fote, 4–6 clove-foted, -footed, 6 cloven-foted.
[f. cloven foot, cloven c.]
Having the foot divided into distinct toes; esp. having a divided hoof as ruminant quadrupeds; also applied to the devil, Satanic. Hence cloven-footedness.
| 1415 E. E. Wills 23 All cloue-fote bestes that I haue. 1398 Trevisa Barth. De P.R. xii. xxxiii. (Tollem. MS.), The ostriche..is cloffoted [1495 cloue fotyd] as a foure fotid beste. 1467 Bury Wills (1850) 46 Hennys and fowlys clovefotyd. 1572 J. Bossewell Armorie ii. 56 b, A wilde beaste, clouefooted. |
| 1523 Fitzherb. Husb. §146 All hole-footed fowles..and all clouenfooted fowles. 1611 Bible Levit. xi. 7 The swine, though he diuide the hoofe, and be clouen footed. 1622 Massinger & Dekker Virgin Martyr iii. iii. Wks. 1873 IV. 57 The Divel; He's no such horrid creature, cloven footed..As these lying Christians make him. 1691 Ray Creation, Great variety of waterfowl, both whole and cloven footed. 1768–74 Tucker Lt. Nat. (1852) I. 57 The cloven⁓footed tyrant inveigles the unwary. |
| 1656 J. Serjeant tr. White's Peripatet. Inst. 216 Cloven⁓footednesse includes pedality. |