My father just asked me if I could buy some 'steel-toed' shoes on "the Internet". So I went to [That Popular Shoe Site] and typed 'steel toed shoes' in their search field and it showed me lots of watches, some crampons and various and sundry steel items, but no shoes. When I typed 'steel toe' (without a D) it showed me tons of shoes with steel caps in the toe area. My father and those around him have said 'steel-toed' shoes for as long as I can remember. Is this a generational thing, a regional thing (we're New Englanders) or is steel toed shoes just not correct? Thanks.
Learn English – Is ‘steel-toed’ shoes acceptable usage
word-usage
Best Answer
"Steel-toed boot" is an acceptable alternative, both usage-wise and meaning-wise.
Usage-wise, I've heard it both ways in two different states (I grew up in St. Louis, but I go to school in Oklahoma), and Google ngram has that it's used a little less than half as much as steel-toe.
Other validating results include Wiktionary, which includes it as an alternative form, and the fact that traditionally they were literally capped, or "toed" with steel.