moccasin

[ mok-uh-sin, -zuhn ]

noun

1. a heelless shoe made entirely of soft leather, as deerskin, with the sole brought up and attached to a piece of u -shaped leather on top of the foot, worn originally by the American Indians.
2. a hard-soled shoe or slipper resembling this, often decorated with beads.
3. any of several North American snakes of the genus Agkistrodon ( Ancistrodon ), especially the cottonmouth.

moccasin

/ ˈmɒkəsɪn /

noun

1. a shoe of soft leather, esp deerskin, worn by North American Indians
2. any soft shoe resembling this
3. a sheepshearer's footgear, usually made of sacking
4. See water moccasin
   short for water moccasin

Word History and Origins

Origin of moccasin¹

1605–15, Americanism; < Virginia Algonquian < Proto-Algonquian *maxkeseni

Word History and Origins

Origin of moccasin¹

C17: from Algonquian; compare Narraganset mocussin shoe

Example Sentences

Carbon-14 dating is most suited to something that lived during the last 50,000 years or something made from such organisms — the wooden shafts of arrows, the leather in a moccasin or the plant fibers used to weave fabrics or baskets.

From Science News

When he stopped in Flagstaff, he visited the Museum of Northern Arizona, saw a pair of moccasins on display, and said, “Dude, those look tight!”

From Outside Online

He listened, a little confused, trying to catch up, while he pulled off his galoshes to reveal tan suede moccasin boots.

From The Daily Beast

The print of steel-rimmed hoofs showed in the soft loam as plainly as a moccasin-track in virgin snow.

From Project Gutenberg

I broke a branch and pawed the moccasin toward me and picked it up and went back to the horses.

From Project Gutenberg

It was a brightly beaded moccasin, very small, and strangely familiar even at a distance.

From Project Gutenberg

"Well, we came fast, but I see that we did not get here in time to help you," said Black Moccasin.

From Project Gutenberg

Bet he never saw an orioles' nest or found a wild pink moccasin.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• sandal