Hob-Nailed Shoes

I came across these shoes while reading The Oregon Trail by Parkman and wondered what exactly were hob-nailed shoes, so I looked them up.

From the Free Online Dictionary I came across these shoes while reading The Oregon Trail by Parkman and wondered what exactly were hob-nailed shoes, so I looked them up.

From the Free Online Dictionary hobnail
n.
A short nail with a thick head used to protect the soles of shoes or boots.
[hob, peg, projection (obsolete) + nail.]
hobnailed adj.

Here is the excerpt that references these shoes when the author of this reference saw these shoes it was 1846.
As I stood at the door of the tavern, I saw a remarkable looking person coming up the street. He had a ruddy face, garnished with the stumps of a bristly red beard and moustache; on one side of his head was a round cap with a knob at the top, such as Scottish laborers sometimes wear; bis coat was of a nondescript form, and made of a gray Scotch plaid, with the fringes hanging all about it; he wore pantaloons of coarse homespun and hob-nailed shoes; and to complete his equipment, a little black pipe was stuck in one corner of his mouth. In this curious attire, I recognized Captain C. of the British army, who, with his brother and Mr. R., an English gentleman, was bound on a hunting expedition across the continent. I had seen the Captain and his companions at St. Louis.

If you would like to read further about these shoes and their history Click here There is a photograph of shoes from this time period. Here's a copy of the image that you'll find on their web site.
">hob·nail
n.
A short nail with a thick head used to protect the soles of shoes or boots.
[hob, peg, projection (obsolete) + nail.]
hobnailed adj.

Here is the excerpt that references these shoes when the author of this reference saw these shoes it was 1846.
As I stood at the door of the tavern, I saw a remarkable looking person coming up the street. He had a ruddy face, garnished with the stumps of a bristly red beard and moustache; on one side of his head was a round cap with a knob at the top, such as Scottish laborers sometimes wear; bis coat was of a nondescript form, and made of a gray Scotch plaid, with the fringes hanging all about it; he wore pantaloons of coarse homespun and hob-nailed shoes; and to complete his equipment, a little black pipe was stuck in one corner of his mouth. In this curious attire, I recognized Captain C. of the British army, who, with his brother and Mr. R., an English gentleman, was bound on a hunting expedition across the continent. I had seen the Captain and his companions at St. Louis.

Here is a photograph of shoes from this time period.