[formerly all four, sc. extremities. The -s has been added prob. during the present century; not in Johnson, 1808.] All four legs of a quadruped, or the legs and arms of a man. In the phrase to go (crawl, etc.) on all fours.
1563. Homilies, II. xiii. II. (1640), 184. A bruit beast, creeping upon all foure.
1611. Bible, Lev. xi. 42. Whatsoeuer goeth vpon all foure.
[1535. Coverdale, ibid. All that goeth vpon foure or mo fete.]
1777. Robertson, Amer. (1783), II. 436. These spies … will creep on all-four, like cats.
1814. Scott, Wav., xxxviii. Edward … could perceive him crawling on all-fours.
2. fig. To run on all fours, i.e., fairly, evenly, not to limp like a lame dog. To be, or stand, on all fours: to be even or on a level, to present an exact analogy or comparison (with).
1710. Sir J. St. Leger, in Somers’ Tracts (1751), III. 248. Tho’ the Comparison should not exactly run upon all four when examined.
1877. Daily Tel., 15 March. It must stand on all fours with that stipulation.
1883. Daily News, 8 Feb., 3/6. The decision I have quoted is on all fours with this case.
