hoofer

[ hoof-er, hoo-fer ]

noun

, Slang.

1. a professional dancer, especially a tap dancer.

hoofer

/ ˈhuːfə /

noun

1. slang.
   a professional dancer, esp a tap-dancer

Word History and Origins

Origin of hoofer¹

An Americanism dating back to 1920–25; hoof + -er ¹

Example Sentences

In a brassy set piece from the 1952 classic “Singin’ in the Rain,” its star, Gene Kelly, impersonates a newbie hoofer seeking fame on the Great White Way.

From New York Times

In West, every character is out of place — an Ivy Leaguer beguiled by Hollywood, a vaudeville hoofer reduced to door-to-door selling, a Midwesterner lured to California for his health, a suspiciously mature child actor.

From Los Angeles Times

“Hope springs so eternal, an 83-year-old hoofer recently took a turn.”

From New York Times

American Contemporary Ballet’s ‘Astaire Dances’ The L.A-based company returns with a new edition of this stylish and sophisticated offering that celebrates the legendary hoofer’s classic dance routines.

From Los Angeles Times

“The Phantom of the Opera” has been running on Broadway longer than many of the industry’s hoofers have been alive.

From New York Times

Related Words

• ballet dancer