Divided lengthwise; split. the divided hoof of ruminant quadrupeds, consisting of the third and fourth phalanges of the typical mammalian foot…

Split or divided to a certain depth; bifurcate. cleft palate: a malformation of the palate, in which a longitudinal gap exists in the middle or on…

In allusion to the cloven hoof attributed to the Devil: cf. cloven, adj. c; (also) to the hoof of ‘the Beast’, i.e. Antichrist.

A name for the Devil, as popularly represented with a cloven foot.

plural Cloots n. a name for the Devil. (Cf. Clootie, n.)