The hard outer covering on the feet of animals like horses, cows, and goats, similar to a toenail but much thicker and stronger.
From Old English 'hōf,' related to Old Norse 'hófr.' The word likely comes from Proto-Germanic and refers to the hard protective structure on hoofed mammals' feet.
A horse's hoof is actually more complex than it looks—it has multiple layers including an outer wall, sole, and frog (a triangular cushioned area), and it keeps growing throughout the animal's life like our fingernails, which is why horses need regular trimming.
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