shoehorn
UK[ˈʃuːhɔːn]US[ˈʃuːhɔːrn]
n
A curved piece of plastic, metal, or horn used to help the heel slide easily into a shoe.
v
To force something into a space or situation where it does not really belong.
Morpheme Breakdown
shoe
horn
shoe
horn
Etymology
The word 'shoehorn' is a transparent compound from two Old English nouns. Literally, it describes an implement originally made from animal horn, used to aid in putting on a shoe. The material 'horn' was commonly used for such tools before the advent of plastic and metal. The verb sense, meaning to force something into an unsuitable place, is a figurative extension from the 19th century, vividly evoking the physical act of squeezing a foot into a tight shoe using the tool.
Analysis
Structure: shoe + horn
shoe: From Old English scōh, meaning a covering for the foot. A Germanic root.
horn: From Old English horn, meaning a hard, pointed projection on the head of an animal, or a material made from this. A Proto-Germanic root.
Examples
He used a silver shoehorn to put on his leather boots without damaging the heel.
The developers managed to shoehorn a new feature into the final release of the software.
Finding a shoehorn can save your shoes and your fingers a lot of strain.