straw shoe

English

Alternative forms

• straw-shoe

Etymology

US, mid 1700s.

Noun

straw shoe (plural straw shoes)

1. (slang, obsolete) A professional false witness hired by an unscrupulous attorney. Such a man would frequent the vicinity of a courthouse and show his intention and availability by a straw sticking from one of his shoes.

   Synonyms: straw-bail, man of straw