The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #16942   Message #3793712
Posted By: GUEST,Hal England, Sussex.
04-Jun-16 - 06:21 AM
Thread Name: St. Peter's shoes -- what are they?
Subject: RE: St. Peter's shoes -- what are they?
Looks like St Peter's shoes has been thoroughly explained. Howver, 'clouting on St Peter's shoon' I found interesting.

Today, we talk of single 'shoe' and many 'shoes', i.e. Words are pluralised by adding 's'.

In Middle English, words were pluralised by adding 'n' - so 1 shoe, many shoon (...hence 'St Peter's shoon'.) and, in both senses, was used by Shakespeare.

The 'n' plural still hangs around in words like 'men' women' and chicken, 'chick' being the singular, reflected in the term "she's a great looking chick'.

'Clout', apart from meaning 'a heavy blow', also descibes a type of short, thick, headed nail - a type often used by bootmakers as studs in rhe sloes of work boots. Thus, 'cloutin' on St Peter's shoon' might mean meanding, repairing or reenforcing St Peter's shoes.