Outfoot is a verb, a real word, and its usage goes all the way back to 1737, according to Webster’s Dictionary. To “outfoot” someone means to run faster or evade them. The word might also be used to describe animals and their ability to evade others. Today the more common word is outrun, but the meaning is the same.
“As I grew older, I could no longer outfoot my grandchildren.”
“The rabbit was spry and could outfoot any fox that tried to catch it.”
“I practiced running every day and could outfoot anyone else on the track team.”
Outfoot is one of those words that, when you drop it in conversation it will draw some confused looks. Then, you can explain it and draw some admiration for your knowledge of language.
Beginning with “ped,” pedagogical sounds like it might also be related to feet, but it is not. Pedagogical is an adjective originally used to describe someone who forces children to attend school or class. It originates in ancient Greece and was used to denote someone, a slave, who accompanied children to school. Perhaps the “ped” referred to the slave who walked children to school and there is a foot connection.
Then, apparently, the word pedant morphed to mean someone who helps with education. Today, it can be used to describe dull or boring teaching or just the art of teaching.
There are also other forms of the word pedantic, pedagogy, and pedagogue. Pedagogy is a noun meaning the art or science of teaching. Pedagogue would then refer to a dull or boring teacher, also a noun.
“Mr. Smith developed rules for his classroom that were pedological at most.”
“The pictures of the birds used in the lectures were pedagogical and put the students to sleep.”
“Mrs. Jones was the worst pedagogue of my senior year in high school.”
“Mr. Jones was a pedantic teacher.”
“Dr. White was a pedagog and I hated his class.”
