Wiktionary

barefoot

See also: Barefoot

EnglishEdit

EtymologyEdit

From Middle English barefote, barfot, from Old English bærfōt (“barefoot”), from Proto-Germanic *bazafōts (“barefoot”) equivalent to bare +‎ foot. Cognate with Scots barefit (“barefoot”), Old Frisian berfōt ("barefoot"; modern Saterland Frisian boarfouts (“barefoot”, adverb)), Dutch barrevoets (“barefoot”, adverb), German barfuß (“barefoot”), Danish barfodet (“barefoot”), Swedish barfota (“barefoot”, adverb), Icelandic berfættur (“barefoot”), Yiddish באָרוועס‎ (borves, “barefoot”).

 
barefoot (1)

PronunciationEdit

AdjectiveEdit

barefoot (not comparable)

  1. Wearing nothing on the feet.
    After taking off their shoes, socks and sandals at the doorway, the kids were barefoot.
    • 1610-11, William Shakespeare, The Tempest, Act II Scene 2
      CALIBAN:
      […]
      His spirits hear me,
      And yet I needs must curse. But they'll nor pinch
      Fright me with urchin-shows, pitch me i'th' mire,
      Nor lead me like a firebrand in the dark
      Out of my way, unless he bid 'em; but
      For every trifle are they set upon me,
      Sometimes like apes that now and chatter at me,
      And after bite me; then like hedgehogs, which
      Lie tumbling in my barefoot way, and mount
      Their pricks at my footfall; sometimes am I
      All wound with adders, who with their cloven tongues
      Do hiss me into madness—
      […]
    • 1938, Norman Lindsay, Age of Consent, Sydney: Ure Smith, published 1962, page 60:
      It was firm enough to walk on, but Bradly took off his boots to preserve the leather from sea-water, and for the pleasure of barefoot walking on cool sand.
  2. (colloquial, of a vehicle on an icy road) Not using snow chains.
  3. (CB radio slang) Transmitting without the use of an amplifier.

SynonymsEdit

TranslationsEdit

AdverbEdit

barefoot (not comparable)

  1. Wearing nothing on the feet.
    • 2007, Andy Mangels and Michael A. Martin, Star Trek: Enterprise: The Good That Men Do:
      Ignoring the familiar discomfort, he padded barefoot across the thick white carpet toward the heavy curtains that lined the richly appointed bedroom’s wide transparisteel window.
    She likes to go barefoot in the summertime.
  2. (CB radio slang) Transmitting without the use of an amplifier.

TranslationsEdit

Derived termsEdit

Further readingEdit

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