tanglefootadj.n.
/ˈtaŋɡ(ə)lfʊt/ A. adj.
That tangles or entangles the foot.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > difficulty > hindrance > types or manners of hindrance > [adjective] > entangling or confining
tanglinga1586
meshing1586
entanglinga1627
implicatory1642
tanglefoot1893
the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > conformity with what is known, truth > deceit, deception, trickery > snare, trap, entanglement > [adjective]
insidious1545
trapping1548
masking1567
snaringa1586
entrapping1588
sirenian1600
catching1603
set1603
snarefula1618
insidiary1625
entanglinga1627
ensnaring1630
implicatory1642
trepanning1670
webby1768
spidery1825
catchy1874
trappy1882
tanglefoot1893
1893 Chicago Advance 28 Sept. The tangle-foot complications in which it was sure to involve its defenders.
B. n.
That which tangles or entraps the foot; spec. U.S. slang, an intoxicating beverage, esp. whisky. Also attributive.
ΘΚΠ
the world > food and drink > drink > intoxicating liquor > distilled drink > whisky > [noun]
usquebaugh1581
creature1638
corn-brandy1704
whisky1715
usque1728
spunkiea1796
skreigh1813
the stuff1828
snake poison1842
tanglefoot1860
whisky-straight1864
oil1869
Auld Kirk1884
snake juice1890
screech1902
scat1914
pinch bottle1916
screecham1923
juice1932
malt1967
the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > conformity with what is known, truth > deceit, deception, trickery > snare, trap, entanglement > [noun]
neteOE
angleOE
grinc1000
trapc1175
caltropa1300
lacec1330
girnc1375
espyc1380
webc1400
hook1430
settingc1430
lure1463
stall?a1500
stalea1529
toil1548
intrap1550
hose-net1554
gudgeon1577
mousetrap1577
trapfall1596
ensnarementa1617
decoy1655
cobweba1657
trepan1665
snap1844
deadfall1860
Judas1907
tanglefoot1908
catch-221963
trip-wire1971
the world > action or operation > difficulty > hindrance > types or manners of hindrance > [noun] > entangling or confining > that which
fetterOE
bandc1175
bonda1325
mesh1541
tangling1575
gyve1587
entanglement1644
impesterment1652
trammela1657
stranglehold1899
tanglefoot1908
chokehold1911
1860 J. R. Bartlett Dict. Americanisms (ed. 3) Tangle-foot, one of the Western figurative terms for whiskey.
1871 Hartford (Connecticut) Courant 17 Mar. in J. S. Farmer Slang He proceeded..toward a neighboring saloon in quest of tangle-foot.
1872 ‘M. Twain’ Roughing It ii He could..hold more tangle~foot whisky without spilling it than any man in seventeen counties.
1900 Daily News 11 Apr. 3/2 The poisonous ‘Cape Smoke’, or ‘tanglefoot’, which they [soldiers] get in too great abundance out here.
1908 W. R. Hearst in Westm. Gaz. 2 Oct. 5/1 The deeper he sinks into the tangle-foot of corruption and contradiction.
Derivatives
ˈtangle-footed adj. having tangled feet, stumbling.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > ability > inability > unskilfulness > [adjective] > bungling > characterized by
bungling1598
muffish1843
tinkering1880
tangle-footed1888
bunglesome1889
Harry Tate1925
1888 Voice (N.Y.) 27 Dec. [Stories] of this tanglefooted variety, which trip up and throw themselves by their absurdity and self-contradiction.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1910; most recently modified version published online September 2018).
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adj.n.1860