hoofer

English

Etymology

From hoof (“dance”, verb) +‎ -er.

Pronunciation

• Audio (General Australian):

  (file)

Noun

hoofer (plural hoofers)

1. (US, slang) A professional dancer, particularly one who has paid his or her dues.
   • 1946, Milton “Mezz” Mezzrow, Bernard Wolfe, “Tell a Green Man Something”, in Really the Blues, New York, N.Y.: Random House, book 3 (1928–1935: The Big Apple), page 208:

     Once a good friend of mine, a fine hoofer who was having trouble getting bookings, ran up to that tree, gave it a big smack, and yelled “Lawd please make me a pimp, any kind of a pimp, long as I’m pimpin’. I’m tired of scufflin’ and my feet are too long outa work.”

Translations

professional dancer

• Italian: ballerino (it), ballerina (it)