all fours

plural noun

1
a
: all four legs of a quadruped
b
: the two legs and two arms of a person when used to support the body
down on all fours
After a few tense moments, she dropped to all fours …—Carl Hiassen
2
singular in construction : any of various card games in which points are scored for the high trump, low trump, jack of trumps, and game

Word History

First Known Use

1678, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of all fours was in 1678

Dictionary Entries Near all fours

(all) for the best

all fours

all get-out

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Cite this Entry

“All fours.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/all%20fours. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.

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Kids Definition

all fours

plural noun
: all four legs of a four-legged animal or the two legs and two arms of a person
got down on all fours

More from Merriam-Webster on all fours

Nglish: Translation of all fours for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about all fours

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