barefoot

Etymology

From Middle English barefote, barfot, from Old English bærfōt (“barefoot”), from Proto-Germanic *bazafōts (“barefoot”) equivalent to bare +‎ foot. Cognate with Scots barefit (“barefoot”), Old Frisian berfōt ("barefoot"; modern Saterland Frisian boarfouts (“barefoot”, adverb)), Dutch barrevoets (“barefoot”, adverb), German barfuß (“barefoot”), Danish barfodet (“barefoot”), Swedish barfota (“barefoot”, adverb), Icelandic berfættur (“barefoot”).

Pronunciation

• (General American) IPA^(key): /ˈbɛɹfʊt/
• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ˈbɛəfʊt/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

• Hyphenation: barefoot

Adjective

barefoot (not comparable)

barefoot (1)

1. Wearing nothing on the feet.

   After removing their shoes, socks and sandals at the doorway, the kids were barefoot.

2. (colloquial, of a vehicle on an icy road) not using snow chains.

Adverb

barefoot (not comparable)

1. Wearing nothing on the feet.

   She likes to go barefoot in the summertime.

Derived terms

• barefooting
• the shoemaker's children go barefoot