In Appalachian and Southern speech, "clodhoppers" means heavy work shoes or boots - and, figuratively, a country or unsophisticated person. It’s a down-home term with roots in older English.
Big 'ol heavy shoes have always been called 'clodhoppers' - I still hear this one.
Hillbilly Dude Says...
Big 'ol heavy shoes have always been called 'clodhoppers' - I still hear this one.
Pronunciation
[KLOD-hop-ers]
Meaning & Usage
- Heavy work shoes or boots (noun)
Literal use
Mae:
Those boots seen better days.
Earl:
Yeah - just old clodhoppers I wear to the barn.
- An unsophisticated or rural person (figurative noun)
Figurative use
Mae:
City folks look down on us.
Earl:
They call us clodhoppers but we know how to work.
★ "Clodhoppers" comes from older British English for plowmen stepping over clods of earth. In Appalachia and the South it stuck as both a literal term for work shoes and a figurative term for country folk. ★
Origin and Etymology
First recorded in the 1600s in Britain as "clodhopper" for a farm laborer. Brought to America by settlers, it took root in the South and Appalachia as a familiar, folksy word for sturdy shoes and unsophisticated people.
Usage Notes
Still heard today in the South, especially among older speakers and in country humor. Outside the region it’s often recognized but used mostly as a joking or old-timey insult.
Say It Like a Southerner
Say it plain: "clodhoppers." "Clod" like a lump of dirt, "hopper" like stepping or hopping.
It originated in Britain but survives most strongly in Southern/Appalachian speech.
Do people still say it today?
Yes - especially older folks or in humorous storytelling.
How to Cite This Page
APA (7th edition)
The Hillbilly Dude. (2025, September 17). Clodhoppers. HillbillySlang.com. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/definitions/clodhoppers
MLA (9th edition)
"The Hillbilly Dude." "Clodhoppers." HillbillySlang.com, 17 Sept. 2025, https://www.hillbillyslang.com/definitions/clodhoppers.
Chicago (17th edition)
The Hillbilly Dude. "Clodhoppers." HillbillySlang.com. September 17, 2025. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/definitions/clodhoppers.
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Created by a true, actual, proper, real-life hillbilly, HillbillySlang is a growing field guide to culture, speech, memory, and meaning - rooted in Appalachia but reaching across the world. Every slang word, saying, accent and story is gathered from first-hand experience and trusted sources. The goal: preserve authentic voices and share them with writers, learners, and culture lovers everywhere - with a little humor thrown in here and there. Read more...
Big 'ol heavy shoes have always been called 'clodhoppers' - I still hear this one. 
