padfootn.1
/ˈpadfʊt/, U.S. /ˈpædˌfʊt/ Chiefly English regional (northern).
Also with capital initial. A large dog, variously said to be a ghost, spirit, or monster, supposed to guard graves and to terrify travellers. Cf. barghest n.
ΘΚΠ
the world > the supernatural > supernatural being > fairy or elf > [noun] > imp, goblin, or hobgoblin > in form of animal
barghest1732
padfoot1736
shag foal1847
1736 F. Drake Eboracum i. ii. 58 The Padfoot of Pontfrete, and the Barguest of York.
1828 W. Carr Dial. Craven (ed. 2) Pad-foot, a Ghost.
1865 S. Baring-Gould Bk. Were-wolves viii. 106 The Church-dog, bar-ghast, pad-foit, wash-hound, or by whatever name the animal supposed to haunt a churchyard is designated.
1883 T. Lees Easther's Gloss. Dial. Almondbury & Huddersfield Padfoot,..described as being something like a large sheep, or dog; sometimes to have rattled a chain, and been accustomed to accompany persons on their night walks, much as a dog might; keeping by their side, and making a soft noise with its feet—pad, pad, pad—whence its name. It had large eyes as big as ‘tea-plates’.
1972 M. J. Petry Herne Hunter vii. 85 In Staffordshire and the north generally, the padfoots guard the graves of those who have died by violence, as do the barguests of the west country.
1998 M. Warner No Go Bogeyman (2000) 10 Bogeys can be black dogs, like the Padfoot feared in the North Country or the Skriker of Yorkshire and Lancashire.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, March 2005; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
padfootn.2
/ˈpadfʊt/, U.S. /ˈpædˌfʊt/ Chiefly English regional (northern). Now rare.
A highwayman who robs on foot; = footpad n.1 Now rare.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > possession > taking > stealing or theft > thief > robber > [noun] > highwayman > footpad
trailer1591
commissioner of Newmarket heath1592
foot land-raker1598
striker1598
padder1610
footman1615
footpad1670
low pad1673
spice1819
padfoot1838
1838 Leeds Times 1 Dec. 5 Deponent and another man named Shearman, went to him, and told him that his coach was waiting for him in the yard; he (Lawton) told them they were both liars. He called Haigh ‘a padfoot’, and after some words struck him over the head three times.
1847 ‘T. Treddlehoyle’ Bairnsla Foaks' Ann. 41 Sitha, Bobby's catch't a padfooit.
1892 ‘T. Treddlehoyle’ Bairnsla Foaks' Ann. (E.D.D.) 23 Wun on em telld a tale abaht a pad~fooit runnin away wi Moases Pinch's sweet-heart.
1892 J. S. Fletcher When Charles I was King (1896) 209 Here I am, winged in this way by some vile padfoot.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, March 2005; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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