snowshoe (snoʻsho)

A contrivance attached to the foot to enable the wearer to walk on deep snow without sinking to the extent of being disabled. There are two principal kinds - the web or Canadian, and the long or Norwegian. The Canadian is a contracted oval in front and pointed behind, and is from 3 to 5 feet long and from 1 to 2 feet wide, the foot being fastened on the widest part of the shoe by means of thongs and so as to leave the heel free. It has a light rim of tough wood, on which is woven from side to side a web of rawhide. The Norwegian is merely a thin board, about 8 feet long and 3 inches wide, slightly curved upward in front; it is especially adapted to mountains, in descending which by its use great speed is attained. See skee. O'er the heaped drifts of winter's moon Her snow- shoes tracked the hunter's way. Whittier, Bridal of Penna cook, iii. Snow-shoe disease, a painful affection of the feet occurring in arctic and subarctic America after long journeys on snow-shoes. - Snow-shoe rabbit. See rabbit1. snow-shoe (snō'shö), v. i. [ You can snow - shoe anywhere, even up to some chimney Harper's Mag., LXXVI. 358. tops. Rink-skating is a fine art in Canada, tobogganing is an accomplishment; but sleighing and snow - shoeing , though often pastimes, are also normal methods of locomotion during the long winter. fall of snow.