hoof-and-mouth disease

[ hoof-uhn-mouth, hoof- ]

noun

1. foot-and-mouth disease.

Word History and Origins

Origin of hoof-and-mouth disease¹

An Americanism dating back to 1880–85

Example Sentences

A television journalist in the Farm Belt once said this about a suspected outbreak of hoof-and-mouth disease: The pasture contained several cows seen by news reporters that were dead, diseased, or dying.

From Literature

In the countryside that year, everything happened: drought, snails, and hoof-and-mouth disease.

From Literature

The Dallas Cowboys surely will disappoint again; they’ll be as appealing as a corral full of cattle with hoof-and-mouth disease.

From Newsweek

They went through the country like the hoof-and-mouth disease, and killed the Indians off like cattle. 

From Project Gutenberg

Cholera may carry off his hogs, or hoof-and-mouth disease his cattle.

From Project Gutenberg