To show the cloven foot, i.e. to show a knavish intention, a
base motive. The allusion is to Satan, represented with the legs and
feet of a goat; and, however he might disguise himself, he could never
conceal his cloven feet. (See Bag O'Nails, Goat.)
“Real grief little influenced its composition and the cloven foot
peeps out in some letters written by him at the period.” —St.
James's Magazine
More on Cloven foot from Infoplease:
- Cloven foot - Cloven foot To show the cloven foot, i.e. to show a knavish intention, a base motive. The allusion ...
- cloven hoof - cloven hoof: Definition and Pronunciation
- cloven hoof: meaning and definitions - cloven hoof: Definition and Pronunciation
- Clootie - Clootie Auld Clootie Old Nick. The Scotch call a cloven hoof a cloot, so that Auld Clootie is Old ...
- Foot - Foot (Greek, pod'; Latin, ped'; French, pied; Dutch, voet; Saxon, fot. Foot and pedal are ...
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