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# hoof

noun (a hoof, hooves or hoofs)

«hoof» in the English dictionary: everyday and in Jewish tradition — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

A hoof is the hard part of the foot of animals like horses, cows, deer, goats, sheep and pigs. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/H/hoof/#m1)

### In the lessons

In science lessons, hooves are an example of animal adaptation: they are made of keratin, like our fingernails, and help animals run on hard ground. A farrier trims horses' hooves and fits horseshoes. Animals with hooves are called hoofed animals or ungulates. In stories, the sound of hooves tells that horses are coming. Phrases: the clatter of hooves, cloven hooves (split in two, like a cow's).

### Examples

- The horse's hooves clattered on the road. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/H/hoof/#x1)
- A farrier puts metal shoes on a horse's hooves. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/H/hoof/#x2)
- Cows and sheep have cloven hooves, split into two parts. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/H/hoof/#x3)
- Hooves are made of the same stuff as your fingernails. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/H/hoof/#x4)
- We heard hooves coming up the lane. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/H/hoof/#x5)
- The deer's hoof left a print in the mud. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/H/hoof/#x6)
- A Bull trampled him with his heavy hoofs. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/H/hoof/#x7)

### Note

Plural: hooves (more common) or hoofs. Like «leaf, leaves» and «wolf, wolves». Trimming a hoof does not hurt the animal, just like cutting nails.

## In Jewish tradition

The hoof is the sign used to sort animals. Only those that part the hoof and chew the cud may be eaten.

**Interpretation.** Tradition counts split hooves and chewing the cud as the two signs of a kosher land animal. Animals with only one sign, such as the camel and the pig, are forbidden.

### Examples

- And the rock-badger, because he cheweth the cud but parteth not the hoof, he is unclean unto you. (Torah LEV.11.5, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/H/hoof/#x1)
- And the hare, because she cheweth the cud but parteth not the hoof, she is unclean unto you. (Torah LEV.11.6, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/H/hoof/#x2)
- Whatsoever parteth the hoof, and is wholly cloven-footed, and cheweth the cud, among the beasts, that may ye eat. (Torah LEV.11.3, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/H/hoof/#x3)
- And it shall please the LORD better than a bullock that hath horns and hoofs. (Writings PSA.69.32, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/H/hoof/#x4)
- Whose arrows are sharp, and all their bows bent; their horses' hoofs shall be counted like flint, and their wheels like a whirlwind; (Prophets ISA.5.28, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/H/hoof/#x5)
- I will destroy also all the beasts thereof from beside many waters; neither shall the foot of man trouble them any more, nor the hoofs of beasts trouble them. (Prophets EZK.32.13, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/H/hoof/#x6)

### Note

Plural: hooves (more common) or hoofs. Like «leaf, leaves» and «wolf, wolves». Trimming a hoof does not hurt the animal, just like cutting nails.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «hoof» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/H/hoof/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«hoof» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/hoof.html) on Mova free.
- [Trees and pragmatics of «hoof» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/H/hoof/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«hoof» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/judaism/w/hoof.html) on Mova free.