DCHP-1 Online

Indian shoe † 

• 1 a flat-soled shoe of soft leather, originally worn by the Indians. See picture at moccasin (def. 1).

  See also: moccasin (def. 1)  

  • 1696  (1929)  Gave our men out Indian shoes.
  • 1791  I also made makissins, or Indian Shoes, of deer skins. . . .
  • 1862  We cannot but think that consumption and other maladies are very much festered by the use of this "Indian shoe," and we rejoice to see it gradually discontinued for boots and shoes proper.

• 2 one of several varieties of lady's slipper, as Cypripedium acaule or C. parviflorum.

  See also: moccasin flower  

  • 1912  (1913)  Indian shoe. The large yellow lady's-slipper (Cypripedium hirsutum).
  • 1947  She talked of . . . the good that could be brewed from yellow dock, Indian shoe, gold thread and five fingers.