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单词 foot
释义

footn.int.

Brit. /fʊt/, U.S. /fʊt/
Inflections: Plural feet /fiːt/, (in sense A. 18) foots.
Forms: 1. Singular. early Old English foet (Mercian, dative), Old English foten- (in compounds), Old English–early Middle English fet (dative), Old English (in compounds, perhaps transmission error)–Middle English uot, Old English–1500s fot, Old English–1500s fote (originally dative), Old English (rare)–1600s fott, Old English (rare)– foot, late Old English–early Middle English fod, early Middle English fort (transmission error), early Middle English foð (perhaps transmission error), Middle English ffot, Middle English fhote, Middle English foȝt, Middle English foit, Middle English foth, Middle English fothe, Middle English fowte, Middle English vot, Middle English wote, Middle English–1500s ffoot, Middle English–1500s ffoote, Middle English–1500s ffote, Middle English–1500s footte, Middle English–1500s foyte, Middle English–1500s fute, Middle English–1500s fuyt, Middle English–1600s foote, Middle English–1600s fotte, Middle English–1600s fout, Middle English–1600s (1800s– Irish English) fut, Middle English–1700s foott, 1500s ffooth, 1500s ffootte, 1500s foite, 1500s footh, 1500s foute, 1500s fovte, 1500s fowote, 1500s foyt, 1500s futt, 1600s fooute, 1800s voote (Irish English), 1900s– feet (U.S. regional (southern, in African-American usage)); English regional (chiefly northern) 1600s voote, 1600s (1800s south-western) voot, 1700s– fit, 1800s fitt, 1800s fooat, 1800s– feeat (Yorkshire), 1800s– feut (Cumberland), 1800s– feutt (Cumberland), 1800s– fooit, 1800s– fut; Scottish pre-1700 fitt, pre-1700 foote, pre-1700 foott, pre-1700 footte, pre-1700 fot, pre-1700 fote, pre-1700 fout, pre-1700 foute, pre-1700 fowt, pre-1700 fuite, pre-1700 fuitt, pre-1700 futt, pre-1700 futte, pre-1700 fuyt, pre-1700 fwit, pre-1700 fwt, pre-1700 fwte, pre-1700 fwtt, pre-1700 fwyt, pre-1700 fyt, pre-1700 1700s– fit, pre-1700 1700s– foot, pre-1700 1700s– fut, pre-1700 1700s– fute, pre-1700 1900s– fuit, 1800s– feet (northern). 2. Plural.

α. Old English foer (Northumbrian, transmission error), Old English foeta (Northumbrian, genitive), Old English foett (Northumbrian), Old English fyt (rare), Old English (rare)–Middle English fæt, Old English–Middle English fet, Old English (rare)–Middle English fett, Old English (Anglian)–Middle English foet, Old English (rare)–1600s fete, late Old English fęt, late Old English (Kentish)–1500s fiet, early Middle English fæit (south-west midlands), early Middle English fehit, early Middle English feid, early Middle English feot (south-western), Middle English feeth, Middle English feette, Middle English feit, Middle English feth, Middle English feyt, Middle English feyte, Middle English feytt, Middle English fite (northern), Middle English fyete (west midlands), Middle English fyte (north-west midlands), Middle English uet, Middle English vet, Middle English–1500s feite, Middle English–1500s fette, Middle English–1700s feete, Middle English– feet, 1500s featt, 1500s fiete, 1500s–1600s feett, 1500s–1700s ffeete; English regional 1700s veet (south-western), 1800s– fit, 1800s– vet (south-western), 1800s– vit (south-western); also Scottish pre-1700 feete, pre-1700 feett, pre-1700 feit, pre-1700 feitt, pre-1700 fete, pre-1700 fett, pre-1700 feyt, pre-1700 feytt, pre-1700 1700s fet, pre-1700 1700s– feet.

β. Old English (rare)–Middle English fotas, early Middle English uoten, Middle English footis, Middle English fotis, Middle English–1500s fotes, Middle English–1600s footes, 1500s fots, 1500s– foots (now regional and nonstandard except in sense A. 18), 1800s– voots (English regional (south-western)); also Scottish pre-1700 footes, pre-1700 footis, pre-1700 foots, pre-1700 footts, pre-1700 fouttis, pre-1700 fuitis, pre-1700 fuittis, pre-1700 futes, pre-1700 futis, pre-1700 futtis, pre-1700 futts, pre-1700 fuytis, pre-1700 fuyttis, 1800s– fits.

γ. 1500s fetes, 1500s– feets (now U.S. regional), 1600s (1800s– English regional (East Anglian)) feeten (archaic), 1900s– feetses (U.S. regional); Scottish pre-1700 feittes, pre-1700 feittis, pre-1700 fetis, pre-1700 fittis.

Origin: A word inherited from Germanic.
Etymology: Cognate with Old Frisian fōt , Old Dutch fuot (Middle Dutch voet , Dutch voet ), Old Saxon fōt , fuot (Middle Low German vōt , vuot ), Old High German fuoz (Middle High German vuoz , German Fuß ), Old Icelandic fótr , Old Swedish fōter (Swedish fot ), Danish fod , Gothic fōtus < the same Indo-European base as (with various ablaut grades) Sanskrit pad , pāda , both ‘foot’, ancient Greek ποδ- , πούς (Doric πός ) foot, πεζός on foot, classical Latin ped- , pēs foot, Old Church Slavonic pěšĭ on foot, Lithuanian pėda foot, footmark, Old Icelandic fet step, foot as a measure, feta to make one's way, Old English -fæt (in sīþfæt way, journey), Old High German fezzan to go; compare fet v., and also ( < suffixed forms of the same base) fetter n. and (probably) fetlock n.Stem variation. Originally a Germanic masculine athematic consonant stem (compare man n.1, tooth n.). (However, Gothic fōtus shows assimilation to the u -stem declension, perhaps after other Germanic nouns of this inflectional class denoting body parts (especially hand n.); compare similarly the Gothic cognates of chin n.1 and tooth n.) In Old English the inherited paradigm is well preserved and shows regular variation between two forms of the stem: the nominative, accusative, and genitive singular and the genitive and dative plural show the stem vowel ō (without mutation), while the dative singular and nominative and accusative plural form show i-mutation of the stem vowel (West Saxon ē , Anglian ōē ), caused by the original i of the lost inflectional ending. (The mutated form is very occasionally extended to the genitive singular.) Unlike the plural, dative singular with mutated stem vowel survives only very rarely in early Middle English. Plural forms. The α. forms of the plural show the Old English plural fēt (with mutated stem vowel) and its regular reflexes; compare modern standard English feet (/fiːt/). Occasional secondary plural forms formed on this mutated stem are attested in modern English (as feets, feeten, feetses, etc.: see γ. forms), especially in regional and nonstandard use. From Old English onwards, plural forms showing addition of a regular plural ending (-s , occasionally -en ) to the unmutated (singular) stem are attested (see β. forms). The form foots is the usual current plural in sense A. 18 (denoting the lees of wine) and is occasionally found in other senses in regional and nonstandard use; a number of compounds in foot n. also have a plural in -foots in current usage (compare e.g. Bigfoot n., first foot n., hot foot n., etc.). The use of an unchanged plural (foot ) in sense A. 6a (unit of measurement) when preceded by a cardinal number (especially in colloquial and regional usage) is a common feature of words denoting units of measurement (compare mark n.2, pound n.1, etc.). Notes on senses. In sense A. 1c (denoting the entire leg) originally after corresponding use of ancient Greek πούς and classical Latin pēs ; with great foot compare post-classical Latin pes magnus (1363 in Chauliac; compare quot. ?a1425 at sense A. 1c). In later use in this sense in the Caribbean probably after an African language (compare hand n. 1d and the discussion at that sense). In sense A. 5 (in prosody), after similar use of classical Latin pēs, ancient Greek πούς; the term is commonly taken to refer to the movement of the foot in beating time. With use to denote part of a plough (see sense A. 11a) compare (also with reference to a plough) post-classical Latin fotclutum (1268 in a British source). With use with reference to the foot of a hill (see sense A. 16b) compare the early place name Lullingesfote , Devon (1240), apparently referring to the foot of Lynch Tor. In sense A. 20 (especially in foot of a fine n.) after similar use of Anglo-Norman pee, pé, pié, pied, lit. ‘foot’ (1293 in pee de la fin foot of the fine, or earlier: see pied-à-terre n.) and classical Latin pēs (see -ped comb. form) in post-classical Latin, in e.g. pes chirographi, pes finis, both in sense ‘foot of the fine’ (from 13th cent. in British sources).
A. n.
I. Senses relating to the part of a person's or other vertebrate's body.
1.
a. The terminal part of the leg, on which a person stands and walks. Also figurative.The foot contains the bones of the tarsus, metatarsus, and toes.
ΘΚΠ
the world > life > the body > external parts of body > limb > extremities > foot > [noun]
footOE
heelOE
toec1290
pettitoes1590
goers1612
hoofa1616
fetlock1645
stamper1652
fetterlock1674
pedestal1695
trotter1755
footsie1762
dew-beaters1811
pedal1838
mud-hook1850
tootsy1854
tootsicum1860
gun-boat1870
mundowie1880
plate of meat1887
trilby1895
dog1913
puppies1922
OE Beowulf (2008) 745 Sona hæfde unlyfigendes eal gefeormod fet ond folma.
lOE Adrian & Ritheus (1982) xxvi. 38 Saga me hwæt sindon þa twegen fet þa þeo sawul habban sceal. Ic þe secge, Godes lufu and manna.
?a1160 Anglo-Saxon Chron. (Laud) (Peterborough contin.) anno 1137 Me henged up bi the fet & smoked heom mid ful smoke.
a1200 MS Trin. Cambr. in R. Morris Old Eng. Homilies (1873) 2nd Ser. 21 His holie lichame was tospred on þe holie rode, and nailed þarto his fet and his honden.
c1325 (c1300) Chron. Robert of Gloucester (Calig.) 10048 He vel of is palefrey, & brec is fot bi cas.
R. Misyn tr. R. Rolle Mending of Life 121 Sayntis feet ar to be waschyd for þai draw duste of þe erth.
a1538 T. Starkey Dial. Pole & Lupset (1989) 33 The fote to go & hand to hold & rech.
1576 W. Lambarde Perambulation of Kent 169 It wanteth not the feete of sounde reason to stande vpon.
1587 A. Fleming et al. Holinshed's Chron. (new ed.) III. 914/2 Vpon Maundie thursdaie he made his maundie, there hauing nine and fiftie poore men, whose feet he washed.
1607 S. Rowlands Diogines Lanthorne 44 T'is better stumble with thy feet Then stumble with thy tongue.
1663 S. Pepys Diary 19 Oct. (1971) IV. 339 The Queene..was so ill as to be shaved and pigeons put to her feet.
1681 I. Newton Let. 28 Feb. in Corr. (1960) II. 346 On friday last I saw the Comet neare ye western of ye two starrs in ye left foot of Perseus.
1720 J. Dart tr. Tibullus Wks. 48 In vain your Cloaths are chang'd to please her Mind, In vain your Feet in pinching Shoes confin'd.
1766 T. O'Loghlen Marine Volunteer iv. 68 The Men are to bring their Heels even, without halting, and begin the quick Step with the Right Feet.
1845 R. Ford Hand-bk. Travellers in Spain I. i. 52 No Spaniard..ever took a regular walk on his own feet—a walk for the sake of mere health.
1876 G. J. Whyte-Melville Katerfelto ix. 98 He braced his foot in the stirrup to afford a purchase for her ascent.
1922 S. Lewis Babbitt vii. 96 The rag rug was adjusted so that his bare feet would strike it when he arose in the morning.
1961 H. D. Torbett Angler's Freshwater Fishes iii. 95 Despite their timidity, bleak will swim nosing the feet of the small boy paddling in the shadows.
2006 Play: N.Y. Times Sports Mag. June 63/3 Cristiano Ronaldo..likes to feign kicking the ball with the outside of his foot and instead steps over it.
b. The terminal part of the leg in other vertebrates. Also: a leg or distal segment of a leg of an arthropod.In primates and certain other vertebrates, hand is the usual term for the terminal part of the foreleg.
ΘΚΠ
the world > animals > animal body > general parts > body and limbs > [noun] > paw or foot
footOE
cleche?c1225
clutchc1230
pote1398
pad1791
paw1843
crubeen1847
podium1858
OE Phoenix 311 Is se scyld ufan frætwum gefeged ofer þæs fugles bæc. Sindan þa scancan scyllum biweaxen, fealwe fotas.
OE Ælfric Lives of Saints (Julius) (1900) II. 324 Þa læg se græga wulf..and mid his twam fotum hæfde þæt heafod beclypped.
c1175 Ormulum (Burchfield transcript) l. 1224 Oxe gaþ o clofenn fot.
a1200 MS Trin. Cambr. in R. Morris Old Eng. Homilies (1873) 2nd Ser. 49 (MED) Duue ne harmeð none fugele, ne mid bile ne mid fote.
a1375 (c1350) William of Palerne (1867) l. 1766 William & þe mayde þat were white beres, gon forþ..Fersly on here foure fet.
a1398 J. Trevisa tr. Bartholomaeus Anglicus De Proprietatibus Rerum (BL Add. 27944) (1975) II. xviii. xix. 1157 Þe camele..is clouefooted and haþ felles in þe cliftes, as it fareþ in a goos foot.
c1440 (a1349) R. Rolle in Eng. Writings (1931) 54 (MED) When scho flyes, scho takes erthe in hyr fette.
1489 (a1380) J. Barbour Bruce (Adv.) ii. 362 Knychtis..Wndyr hors feyt defoulyt.
?1523 J. Fitzherbert Bk. Husbandry f. xxxi The two properties of a bauson. The firste is to haue a whyte rase, or a ball in the foreheed: the seconde to haue a whyte fote.
1593 in J. Harland House & Farm Accts. Shuttleworths (1856) I. 100 Dressing of a mare foot, gravelled at Lostoke, iijd.
a1616 W. Shakespeare Twelfth Night (1623) iii. ii. 60 So much blood..as will clog the foote of a flea. View more context for this quotation
1674 N. Cox Gentleman's Recreation ii. 145 Having flown with a Goshawk,..till March, give her some good Quarry in her Foot.
1706 Phillips's New World of Words (new ed.) Palm-Worm, an American Insect half a Foot long..remarkable for its infinite Number of Feet, and two Claws at Head and Tail, with which it wounds and poisons Men.
1736 Compl. Family-piece ii. i. 218 There are two Sorts of Badgers, viz. the Dog-Badger, as resembling the Dog in his Feet; and a Hog-Badger, as resembling a Hog in his cloven Hoofs.
1881 R. M'Lachlan in Encycl. Brit. XIII. 144/1 Plantulæ (much marked in the feet of Diptera, which climb polished surfaces, &c., by means of them).
1929 W. Faulkner Sound & Fury 336 Queenie moved again, her feet began to clop-clop steadily again.
1961 L. van der Post Heart of Hunter iii. xii. 162 To my amazement the head of the Mantis turned and he looked straight before him, while the two long front feet held limp in front of him suddenly moved.
2009 I. Thomson Dead Yard xviii. 250 A school inspector..asked a group of children, ‘How many feet has a cat got?’..A Jamaican teacher re-phrased the question in patois: ‘How much foot have puss?’
c. The entire leg (of a person or animal), from the hip to the tips of the toes or to the hoof. In early use also †great foot. Cf. hand n. 1d. Now Caribbean.
ΘΚΠ
the world > life > the body > external parts of body > limb > leg > [noun]
shanka900
legc1300
grainsa1400
limbc1400
foot?a1425
stumpa1500
pin?1515
pestlea1529
boughc1550
stamp1567
understander1583
pile1584
supporters1601
walker?1611
trestle1612
fetlock1645
pedestal1695
drumstick1770
gam1785
timber1807
tram1808–18
fork1812
prop1817
nethers1822
forkals1828
understanding1828
stick1830
nether person1835
locomotive1836
nether man1846
underpinning1848
bender1849
Scotch peg1857
Scotch1859
under-pinner1859
stem1860
Coryate's compasses1864
peg1891
wheel1927
shaft1935
?a1425 tr. Guy de Chauliac Grande Chirurgie (N.Y. Acad. Med.) f. 19 The grete foote or þe grete legge [L. Pes magnus sive tybia magna] dureþ fro þe iuncture of scia vnto þe extremiteez of þe tooz.
1525 Anothomia in tr. H. von Brunschwig Noble Experyence Handy Warke Surg. x. sig. C.iv/1 This great fote is deuided in. iii. ye fyrst is ye thygh the other is the shynne. the thyrde is the lytell fote.
1615 H. Crooke Μικροκοσμογραϕια 734 The muscles of the foote are diuers: some Bend the thigh, Extend it, bring it to the body lead it from the body and turne it about.
1661 R. Lovell Πανζωορυκτολογια, sive Panzoologicomineralogia 302 The foot is divided into fœmur..the tibia..and the foot extreme.
1765 T. H. Croker et al. Compl. Dict. Arts & Sci. II. at Foot Foot, Pes Magnus, or great foot, in anatomy, denotes the extent from the juncture of the hip to the toe ends.
1892 A. M. H. Christensen Afro-Amer. Folk Lore 8 Den Deer fit for kill 'e self. 'E say, ‘How! I hab four long foot, an' still Cooter git yere befo' me?’
1961 F. G. Cassidy Jamaica Talk vii. 139 The word leg is hardly used in the folk speech..because foot serves for all purposes.
2012 TESL Canada Jrnl. 29 147 When..a female Jamaican patient told her US physician, ‘Me bruk me foot’ (I broke my leg), he was somewhat puzzled by this phrase from a patient whom he thought was English-speaking.
2.
a. The foot (sense A. 1a) viewed with regard to its function as a means of locomotion or movement. Often (esp. in poetic or literary use) qualified by adjectives indicating speed or manner of movement, as slow, swift, etc. Also figurative and in figurative contexts.
ΘΚΠ
the world > life > the body > external parts of body > limb > extremities > foot > [noun] > as organ of locomotion
footeOE
bayard of ten toesc1520
walker1832
stepper1853
creepers1889
eOE King Ælfred tr. Boethius De Consol. Philos. (Otho) (2009) I. xxv. 496 Oðer hæfð his fota anweald þæt he mæg gan ðær he wile.., oðer næfð his fota geweald þæt he mæge gan.
OE Ælfric Homily (Corpus Cambr. 162) in J. C. Pope Homilies of Ælfric (1967) I. 327 Se ðe færð on dæg, hys fot ne ætspyrnð.
OE Stowe Psalter xxxv. 12 Non ueniat mihi pes superbię : ne cume me fot ofermodignysse.
a1382 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Bodl. 959) (1965) Prov. iii. 23 Þou shalt gon trostely in þi wey: & þi foot shal nott offenden.
a1387 J. Trevisa tr. R. Higden Polychron. (St. John's Cambr.) (1876) VI. 403 (MED) Goo þider as God clepeþ þe; sewe hym with a gracious foot þat ledeþ the.
a1425 (c1395) Bible (Wycliffite, L.V.) (Royal) (1850) Prov. i. 15 Go thou not with hem; forbede thi foot fro the pathis of hem.
c1449 R. Pecock Repressor (1860) 221 (MED) It is open that the iije argument hath no quyk foot for to go.
a1500 (c1340) R. Rolle Psalter (Univ. Oxf. 64) (1884) xviii. §4. 69 The fame of a goed man gas ferrere than his fote may.
1597 N. Ling Politeuphuia: Wits Common Wealth f. 219 Time is so swift of foote, that beeing once past, he can neuer be ouer-taken.
1607 E. Topsell Hist. Foure-footed Beastes 159 A square proportion of body is requisite in these beasts, and a tolerable lightnes of foot.
a1616 W. Shakespeare Measure for Measure (1623) v. i. 392 Death, Which I did thinke, with slower foot came on. View more context for this quotation
1633 Bp. J. Hall Plaine Explic. Hard Texts ii. 108 No man can come to mee, by the foot of a true faith, except my Father..inlighten his understanding.
1719 D. Defoe Life Robinson Crusoe 71 The Goats..were so shy, so subtile, and so swift of Foot.
a1774 R. Fergusson Poems (1785) 217 Eild, wi' wyly fit, Is wearing nearer bit by bit!
1847 F. Marryat Children of New Forest II. vii. 157 I was not aware of your presence... Your foot is so light.
1871 B. Jowett in tr. Plato Dialogues II. 24 Dogs..swift of foot.
1878 R. Browning La Saisiaz 18 Useful as is Nature, to attract the tourist's foot.
1915 E. G. Ives Evol. of Teacher v. ii. 159 I..am naturally content to let the slow foot of reason pace the edge of truth.
1994 Boys' Life Sept. 10/1 Kenny Lofton of the Cleveland Indians has some of the fastest feet in baseball.
†b. The ability to walk or run. In later use: (Horse Racing) the ability or capacity to run speedily (cf. to show foot at show v. Phrases 17). Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > progressive motion > walking > [noun] > power of
gangOE
goinga1387
foota1400
ganginga1400
walks1593
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 20885 Petre..To þe cripels he gaf þam fote.
c1450 (?a1400) Wars Alexander (Ashm.) l. 1236 All þe folke of his affinite..Þat outhire fote had or fole to þe fliȝt foundid.
a1500 R. Henryson tr. Æsop Fables: Trial of Fox l. 827 in Poems (1981) 35 Ay rinnis the foxe, als lang as he fute hais.
1568 Dunbar Poems (1998) 112 Ay rynnis the fox Quhill he fute hais.
1740 H. Bracken Farriery Improv'd (ed. 2) II. vi. 123 Horses may alter as to their Speed or Foot (as 'tis called).
1874 Coursing Cal. Autumn 1873 124 After two short undecideds, Britain Yet, who showed foot each time, was drawn in favour of Sir Patrick Dunne.
3.
a. The end of a bed, grave, etc., at which a person's feet lie. In early use often in plural in same sense. Opposed to head n.1 18a.
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > relative position > end or extremity > [noun] > lower end > towards which the feet are placed
footOE
OE West Saxon Gospels: John (Corpus Cambr.) xx. 11 Heo..geseah twegen englas sittan..anne æt þam heafdon & oðerne æt þam fotum þær ðæs Hælendes lic aled wæs.
c1384 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Douce 369(2)) (1850) John xx. 12 She syȝ twey angelis.., oon at the heed and oon at the feet, wher the body of Jhesu was putt.
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 17288 + 218 Þat one at þe fote of þe graf, þat other at the hede.
c1405 (c1390) G. Chaucer Reeve's Tale (Hengwrt) (2003) l. 293 He..baar it softe vn to his beddes feet.
?c1425 T. Hoccleve Jonathas (Durh.) l. 640 in Minor Poems (1970) i. 238 In a Cofre at my beddes feet yee Shul fynde hem.
c1525 J. Rastell New Commodye Propertes of Women sig. Bi What lytyll vrchyn hast forgotyn me when thou layst at my bedde fete how mery were we.
1638 Articles inquired Dioces of Ely iii. sig. A4v Do any take vpon them..to set vp or lay great stones there at the head and foot of any graue, without the Incumbents leaue and the licence of the Ordinarie?
1698 J. Turner Phisico-theol. Disc. Divine Being ii. 56 She was sitting on the Feet of the Bed.
c1710 C. Fiennes Diary (1888) 239 There was such another screen or raile at ye ffeete of the bed.
1749 H. Fielding Tom Jones II. v. v. 145 This enclosed Place exactly fronted the Foot of the Bed.
1820 J. Keats Isabella in Lamia & Other Poems 66 At her couch's foot Lorenzo stood.
1891 Law Rep.: Weekly Notes 19 Dec. 201/1 His trousers..were hanging over the foot of the bed.
1904 Archaeologia Aeliana New Ser. 25 148 Some small remnants of charcoal were found at the foot of the coffin.
1967 R. Sutcliff Outcast xv. 179 Morning sunlight slanted across the foot of the cot.
2005 C. Mendelson Laundry ii. 215 Fold under and miter the two corners at the foot of the bed.
b. The part of a stocking, sock, etc., which covers the foot. Cf. stocking-foot n. 1.
ΘΚΠ
the world > textiles and clothing > clothing > types or styles of clothing > clothing for legs > clothing for legs and feet > [noun] > stocking > parts of > which covers foot (and ankle)
vamp?c1225
vampethc1424
vampeyc1425
vauntpe1530
vampage1555
foot1577
stocking-foot1768
1577 W. Harrison Hist. Descr. Islande Brit. iii. iii. f. 100/1, in R. Holinshed Chron. I He will..carye his hosen..to saue theyr feete from wearing.
1599 J. Minsheu Percyvall's Dict. Spanish & Eng. 185/3 Patín, a goseling: Also the foote of the stocking.
1614 T. Overbury et al. Characters in Wife now Widdow (4th impr.) sig. Fv So her shooes be fine, she cares not though her stockings want feete.
1726 G. Shelvocke Voy. round World iii. 107 A sort of knit buskins without feet to them.
1766 G. G. Beekman Let. 22 Dec. in Beekman Mercantile Papers (1956) I. 506 They [sc. stockings] must be the Largest Size in the legg but not so in the foot or Small.
1829 W. Scott Heart of Mid-Lothian Introd., in Tales of my Landlord 2nd Ser. I. 143 She..knit feet to country-people's stockings.
1882 S. F. A. Caulfeild & B. C. Saward Dict. Needlework 463/1 Silk [hose] with cotton feet.
1910 Home Needlework Mag. June 192/2 This finishes the foot of the sock.
1963 Pop. Mech. Dec. 135/1 Cut off the foot of the stocking and tie a knot at the ankle.
2011 New Yorker 28 Mar. 60/2 Her first big idea..was to chop the feet off a pair of control-top panty hose.
4.
a. A person, esp. one who goes on foot. In later use only in first foot n.Also in evil foot n. a person whom it is considered unlucky to meet.
ΘΚΠ
society > travel > aspects of travel > going on foot > [noun] > one going on foot
foota1225
footmana1382
walkerc1390
footera1425
ganger1424
trampler1580
foot folk1583
marcher1589
leg-stretcher1612
foot traveller1631
pedestrian1641
ambulator1652
foot walker1751
turnpiker1812
foot passenger1832
ped1863
voetganger1902
jaywalker1917
stepper1934
foot-slogger1956
the world > action or operation > adversity > calamity or misfortune > [noun] > misfortune or ill-luck > causing or bringing misfortune > one who or that which
foota1225
woea1300
infortunec1405
infortunate1558
jettatura1822
bad medicine1857
hoodoo1882
voodoo1902
jinx1911
mock1911
mocker1923
kiss of death1948
a1225 (c1200) Vices & Virtues (1888) 29 Ðanne ðe cumþ eft sum euel..ne ȝelief ðu naht al swa sume..seggeð þat hie imetten euel fot, priest oðer munec.
c1225 (?c1200) St. Katherine (Royal) (1981) 1037 He het hatterliche anan wið-uten þe burh bi hefden ham euch fot.
c1300 Havelok (Laud) (1868) l. 2432 (MED) The kinges men..Scuten on hem, heye and lowe, And euerilk fot of hem slowe.
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 6280 (MED) O þam come neuer a fote [a1400 Gött.on, a1400 Trin. Cambr. noon, a1400 Fairf. an] again.
a1500 (?c1450) Merlin (1899) xvii. 274 (MED) He..slough hem alle, that neuer foot ascaped.
1597 W. Shakespeare Romeo & Juliet v. iii. 19 What cursed foote wanders this was [later edd. way] to night.
b. Foot soldiers, infantry. Later also with preceding numeral denoting an infantry regiment. Cf. men of foot n. at man n.1 Phrases 3e, footman n. 1. Now chiefly historical.
ΘΚΠ
society > armed hostility > armed forces > the Army > branch of army > [noun] > infantry
foot folkc1325
pedaile?a1400
putaylea1425
foot band1517
fanterie1575
foot1578
foot troop1579
infantry1579
tolpatchery1864
PBI1916
1578 W. B. tr. Appian of Alexandria Aunc. Hist. Romanes Warres 198 The citie of Carthage, the greatest and mightiest of Libya, both in shippes, money and Elephants, and in army of foote and horsemen.
1600 W. Shakespeare Henry IV, Pt. 2 ii. i. 175 Fifteen hundred foot, fiue hundred horse. View more context for this quotation
1633 T. Stafford Pacata Hibernia i. x. 66 The President was a Captaine of Foot.
1709 R. Steele Tatler No. 17. ⁋3 Their Foot repulsed the same Body of Horse in three successive Charges.
1796 List Officers Army 13 Thomas Nesbitt,..Capt. of Foot, unattached.
1849 T. B. Macaulay Hist. Eng. I. 296 At the close of the reign of Charles the Second, most of his foot were musketeers.
1878 R. Trimen Regiments Brit. Army 89 Forty-Fourth Foot..captured the Eagle of the 62nd French Infantry at Salamanca.
1909 Chatterbox 118/1 He was fifteen years old, when he was appointed an ensign in the Fifty-first Regiment of Foot.
1960 A. Duggan Family Favourites viii. 165 Coming towards us I saw a small escort of foot, a little knot of horse, and a long file of litters.
2001 J. Burke in P. Lenihan Conquest & Resistance 260 Cromwell..ordered three regiments of foot to storm the breach.
II. A metrical unit.
5. Prosody. A unit of poetic metre consisting of a group of syllables having a particular pattern of stress or length.Metrical feet usually consist of two, three, or four syllables, the most common in English being the iamb (iamb n.), trochee (trochee n.), anapaest (anapaest n.), and dactyl (dactyl n.).
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > the arts > literature > poetry > versification > metre > [noun] > foot
footOE
rhythm1737
OE Ælfric Gram. (St. John's Oxf.) 290 Þæra fota is fela: mid ðam setton poetae, þæt sind gelærede sceopas, heora leoðcræft on bocum.
OE Byrhtferð Enchiridion (Ashm.) (1995) ii. i. 90 Pentimemeris byð þe todælð þæt uers on þam oðrum fet, and byð gemet healf fot to lafe.
a1387 J. Trevisa tr. R. Higden Polychron. (St. John's Cambr.) (1874) V. 147 (MED) Iuvencius þe preost wroot þe gospelles to þe chirche of Rome in vers of sixe feet.
a1425 Medulla Gram. (Stonyhurst) f. 47 (MED) Palibathius, fot of two maner vers.
?a1475 (?a1425) tr. R. Higden Polychron. (Harl. 2261) (1876) VI. 183 Seynte Aldelme returnyde to Briteyne..makenge mony noble bookes..of the rewles of feete metricalle.
1563 B. Googe Eglogs Epytaphes & Sonettes sig. E.iiiv Virgils verse hath greater grace In forrayne foote obtaynde, Than in his own.
a1616 W. Shakespeare As you like It (1623) iii. ii. 162 Some of them had in them more feete then the Verses would beare. View more context for this quotation
1678 E. Phillips New World of Words (new ed.) Cæsura, an accident belonging to the scanning of a Latin Verse, as when after a compleat foot a short syllable ends the Verse, that syllable is made long.
1700 J. Dryden Fables Pref. sig. *Bijv Some thousands of his Verses..are lame for want of half a Foot.
1794 J. Davidson Short Introd. Lat. Gram. 106 The Asclepiad verse which has four feet, viz., a spondee, two choriambuses, and a pyrrichius.
1830 S. Fox Menologium p. vi In these compositions..trochaic feet predominate.
1846 T. Wright Ess. Middle Ages I. i. 14 The Saxons did not measure their verse by feet.
1888 A. S. Cook Judith p. l A normal hemistich contains two metrical feet.
1978 R. Hoppin Medieval Mus. 221 Most theorists list six rhythmic modes or patterns that correspond to the feet of quantitative meters in classical poetry.
1994 S. Pinker Lang. Instinct vi. 175 A succession of feet with a strong-weak pattern is a trochaic meter, as in Mary had a little lamb.
III. A unit of measurement.
6.
a. A linear measure made up of twelve inches and originally based on the length of a man's foot, varying in exact length at different periods and in different countries; (now) a standardized unit of length equal to 0.3048 metres (⅓ of a yard). Often in singular when preceded by numbers.Also used with modifying adjective in measurements of area and volume, as square foot or superficial foot, and cubic foot or solid foot respectively.Rhineland foot, Paris foot, etc.: see first element.
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > measurement > measurement of area > [noun] > a space measuring so much each way
footeOE
square yard1625
superfoot1810
the world > relative properties > measurement > measurement of length > [noun] > units of length or distance > length of foot
footeOE
footage1842
eOE tr. Orosius Hist. (BL Add.) (1980) v. xiii. 129 Hie [sc. Mark Antony's ships] wæron swa geworht þæt hie mon ne mehte mid monnum oferhlæstan, þæt hie næren x fota hea [L. decem pedum altitudine] bufan wætere.
lOE Laws: Pax (Rochester) 390 Ðus feor sceal beon þæs cinges grið fram his burhgeate.., ðæt is iii mila..& iii æcera bræde & ix fota & ix scæftamunda.
c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Calig.) (1978) l. 10976 He is imeten a bræde fif & twenti foten [c1300 Otho fote]. fif foten he is deop.
?1316 Short Metrical Chron. (Royal) l. 83 in J. Ritson Anc. Eng. Metrical Romanceës (1802) II. 273 Fourti fet [c1330 Auch. fot]..Into the see he made him lepe.
1459 in R. Willis & J. W. Clark Archit. Hist. Univ. Cambr. (1886) I. 309 A doore in brede iiij foote standard.
1523 J. Fitzherbert Bk. Surueyeng xix. f. 35 Howe many footes euery one of them be in length.
1587 A. Fleming et al. Holinshed's Chron. (new ed.) III. Contin. 1340/1 Before the which [sc. the mint] there was a huge and monstrous sea-horsse of twentie foot high.
a1640 P. Massinger Parl. of Love (1976) v. i. 493 Ile build A roome of eight foote square.
1681 T. De Laune Present State London iii. 19 The Cross 15 Foot and an half high, and very near 6 Foot across.
1737 London Evening Post 3 Nov. He jump'd exactly 13 Feet the last Jump.
1778 W. Marshall Minutes Agric. 26 Mar. 1776 sig. Cc2 I made a calculation of the expence of putting-in the seed; it stands thus:..10 men to sow (in foot drills)..0 16 8.
1789 F. Nutt Compl. Confectioner 70 Take a board about one foot wide, and eighteen inches long, and put one sheet of paper on it.
1833 H. Martineau Loom & Lugger i. vii. 115 Who stood about five feet in their shoes.
1918 J. Martin Diary 22 Aug. in Sapper Martin (2010) 226 An enemy plane came over..and I noticed shells bursting round it about fifty feet from the ground.
2006 A. M. Foley Having my Say ix. 48 Uncle Herbert was over six foot tall and could stand a lot of work.
b. In various expressions with the sense ‘a very short distance or space; the least amount’. Frequently in negative constructions, as not one (or a) foot of. Also in †each foot: all the way (obsolete).In quot. OE in negative construction in phrase fōtes trem (not) a foot's length.
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > distance > [noun] > a short distance
wurpc950
stepc1000
footc1300
furlong wayc1384
stone-casta1387
straw brede14..
tinec1420
weec1420
field-breadth1535
field-broad1535
pair of butts1545
straw-breadth1577
stone's throw1581
way-bit?1589
space1609
piece1612
littlea1616
spirt1670
a spit and a stride1676
hair's breadth1706
rope's length1777
biscuit throw1796
a whoop and a holler1815
biscuit toss1836
biscuit cast1843
stone-shot1847
pieceway1886
stone-put1896
pitch-and-putt1925
pieceways1932
society > travel > aspects of travel > a journey > [adverb] > to the end of a journey
each footc1300
throughc1450
thorougha1475
OE Beowulf (2008) 2525 Nelle ic beorges weard oferfleon fotes trem.]
c1300 St. James Great (Laud) l. 221 in C. Horstmann Early S.-Eng. Legendary (1887) 40 (MED) I nelle anne fot fram him gon.
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 7524 Forth a fote ne moght he ga.
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 15391 Fra þan he ran him ilk fote, ne yode he noght þe pas.
a1400 Siege Jerusalem (Laud) (1932) l. 520 (MED) To day, þat fleþe any fote, þe fende haue his soule.
a1500 (?a1400) Sir Torrent of Portyngale (1887) l. 239 He durst goo no fote Lest they wold hyme sle.
1598 W. Shakespeare Henry IV, Pt. 1 ii. ii. 22 Ile starue ere ile rob a foote further. View more context for this quotation
1615 R. Brathwait Strappado 92 He doth renew his battery, and stands too't, And she Vyrago-like, yeelds not a foote.
1666 W. Sutherland Declar. in R. Wodrow Hist. Sufferings Church of Scotl. (1721) I. App. xv. 102 If ye come one Foot further here, I shall rash my Pike through your Soul.
1714 J. Blanch Beaux Merchant iii. 45 If any Man stir a Foot farther, I will break his Head with a Bottle.
a1770 J. Jortin Serm. (1772) V. ix. 194 He chose the Israelites, poor vagrants who had not a foot of ground of their own.
a1800 Lizie Lindsay in F. J. Child Eng. & Sc. Pop. Ballads (1892) IV. viii. 265 Bonnie Lizie..a fit furder couldna win.
1873 J. H. Beadle Undeveloped West xxxi. 682 There is not a foot of regular turnpike..in the entire Territory.
1923 Boys' Life Jan. 12/2 Not a foot of the Atchafalaya levee showed against the spring-green trees.
1970 New York 26 Oct. 46/2 Not one foot of public gallery space has been added since 1926.
2009 J. C. Nelson Remains Company D xiii. 222 From that point onward, the German army would gain not one foot more of French soil.
†c. In the measurement of volumes of gas: = cubic foot at cubic adj. 2. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > measurement > the scientific measurement of volume > [noun] > cubic foot as measure of coal gas
foot1814
1814 App. Gen. Rep. Agric. State & Polit. Circumstances Scotl. II. xvi. 304 A foot of gas is nearly equal to an ounce of candle.
1882 T. Newbigging & W. T. Fewtrell King's Treat. Coal Gas III. v. 85 The maximum amount of light per foot of gas was given when the rate of consumption was extremely small.
1922 Amer. Gas Assoc. Monthly Aug. 456/1 A heater burning two feet of gas a minute might be turned on without lighting.
†7. A unit of volume used in measuring tin ore, corresponding to two gallons. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > materials > derived or manufactured material > metal > base metal > [noun] > tin > measure of tin
foot1602
gill1602
1602 R. Carew Surv. Cornwall i. f. 13v They measure their blacke Tynne by..the Foote.
1725 R. Bradley Chomel's Dictionaire Œconomique at Tin A Foot of Black Tin is its measure two Gallons, but the weight is uncertain, and according to the goodness of it.
1778 W. Pryce Mineralogia Cornubiensis Gloss. 321 Foot, an ancient measure for black Tin, two gallons; now a nominal measure, but in weight 60 lb.
†8. A denomination used in the classification of grindstones according to their dimensions. Obsolete.In the classification of grindstones a foot is equal to eight inches. The size of the grindstone in this system is the total number of such units making up the sum of the grindstone's diameter with its thickness.
ΚΠ
1810 J. Bailey Gen. View Agric. County of Durham i. 43 They [sc. grindstones] are classed in eight different sizes, called foots, according to their dimensions.
1844 J. R. McCulloch Dict. Commerce 615 A stone 56 inches diameter by 8 thick..is an 8-foot stone.
9. Music. A unit used in describing a set of organ pipes according to its pitch, the designation being the length of one particular pipe. Also occasionally used with reference to the strings of a harpsichord.
ΚΠ
1825 J. F. Danneley Encycl. Music Flautone, an organ-stop of sixteen, and eight feet, stopt, and made of wood.
1855 E. J. Hopkins Organ ii. 118 Nason. This name is sometimes found applied in old organs to a wood-stopped Flute of 4-feet pitch on the Great Manual... It is generally a very quiet and sweet-toned Stop.
1880 Encycl. Brit. XI. 483/2 The ‘subbass’..an octave of 16 feet pitch.
1922 C. Dickinson Technique & Art Organ Playing 8 A 16-foot stop—sometimes spoken of as a ‘double’—sounds an octave lower than an 8-foot.
1974 R. Nurmi Plain & Easy Introd. Harpsichord i. 12 A harpsichord stands or falls on its basic eight-foot registers.
2002 D. Yearsley in K. J. Snyder Organ as Mirror of its Time vii. 97 Here, too, reeds were abundant: seven in total, offering three distinct options at eight-foot pitch.
IV. Something resembling a foot (sense A. 1a) in function or position.
10. The lower (usually projecting) part of an object, which serves to support it; the base of an object.In quot. OE as part of a riddle (describing an inkhorn) using anthropomorphic imagery.
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > relative position > low position > [noun] > condition of being placed under > that which lies under > base on which a thing rests > foot
footOE
OE Riddle 93 (1936) 27 Ic..befæðme þæt mec on fealleð ufan þær ic stonde, eorpes nathwæt; hæbbe anne fot.
a1382 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Bodl. 959) (1959) Exod. xxvii. 10 Twenty pylers, with so feel brasyn feete.
?a1425 (c1400) Mandeville's Trav. (Titus C.xvi) (1919) 6 (MED) Þerfore made þei the foot of the cros of Cedre.
1463 in S. Tymms Wills & Inventories Bury St. Edmunds (1850) 35 (MED) My maseer with a beend and a foot of siluir.
1509 J. Fisher Serm. Henry VIJ (de Worde) sig. Av He..kyssed..the lowest parte the fote of the monstraunt.
?a1560 L. Digges Geom. Pract.: Pantometria (1571) iii. xv. sig. S iij v Admit BCD a piller..my desire is to knowe the waight of the fote.
1611 Bible (King James) Exod. xxx. 18 A Lauer of brasse, and his foote also of brasse. View more context for this quotation
1660 Sir W. Lower Voiage Charls II 79 An overture, which makes a roundel, fashioned like the foot of a lamp.
a1713 M. Geddes Several Tracts against Popery (1715) 132 The Foot of the Cup was an Emerald gilt, thick set with rich Jewels and Union Pearls.
1770 R. Findlay Vindic. Sacred Bks. iii. 463 The laver of brass, and its foot or base.
1801 M. Edgeworth Prussian Vase in Moral Tales III. 22 You have seen this vase..and..the lines..inscribed on the foot of it?
1865 Pract. Mechanic's Jrnl. Feb. 291/1 The clip is caused to press down upon the rail flange or foot by a bolt which is passed up through the bottom of the sleeper.
1917 Illustr. Catal. Furnit. & Embellishments Imperial Palace Pekin §60 Carved in low relief with a blossoming tree which issues from among rocks underneath the foot of the dish and extends up the side.
1996 Jrnl. J. P. Getty Mus. 24 87/1 The stem of the vessel rises from a disc-shaped foot.
11. In specific technical uses.
a. An adjustable piece of wood, iron, etc., fastened to the front of the beam of a plough and used to regulate the depth of the ploughing. Now only in plough foot n.
ΘΚΠ
the world > food and drink > farming > tools and implements > ploughing equipment > [noun] > plough > ploughshare > parts of
foota1325
tuck-hole1805
bosom1807
plough point1837
shield1844
a1325 Gloss. W. de Bibbesworth (Cambr.) (1929) 911 En la carue avez vous..le chef e le penoun [glossed] foth [a1325 Arun. the foot, a1325 Trin. Cambr. plou fot, a1333 BL Add. vot, a1425 All Souls fote of the plogh].
c1400 (?a1387) W. Langland Piers Plowman (Huntington HM 137) (1873) C. ix. l. 64 (MED) My plouh-fot shal be my pyk-staf and picche a two þe rotes.
?1523 J. Fitzherbert Bk. Husbandry f. iii A man may tempar for one thyng in .ii. or thre places, as for depnes. The fote is [one].
1577 B. Googe tr. C. Heresbach Foure Bks. Husbandry i. f. 21 The partes of the Plowe, are the Tayle, the Shelfe, the Beame, the Foote, the Coulter, the Share, the Wheeles, and the Staffe.
1669 J. Worlidge Systema Agriculturæ xi. 209 At the other end it turns upwards like the foot of a Plough, to slide on the Ground, in which bend must be placed a Coulter or Knife of that length you intend the Turf to be in depth.
1688 R. Holme Acad. Armory iii. viii. 333/2 The Foot, is the piece of Hooked or Bended Wood, at the end of the Plow, under the Suck.
1771 L. Carter Diary 12 Aug. (1965) II. 611 I..ordered the feet or stoppers of the plows to be at least 4 inches broad and mould boards about 6 inches long.
1846 Jrnl. Royal Agric. Soc. 7 72 If the foot was not wide, it would cut into the soil.
b. Typography and Printing. In letterpress printing: either of the two parts, divided by a groove, on the side of a piece of type opposite the face.
ΘΚΠ
society > communication > printing > types, blocks, or plates > relating to type > [noun] > parts of type
eye1611
face1683
foot1683
kern1683
shank1683
shoulder1683
counter1798
1683 J. Moxon Mech. Exercises II. Dict. 376 Foot of the Letter, the Break-end of the Shanck of a Letter.
1888 J. Southward in Encycl. Brit. XXIII. 698 The groove g divides the bottom of the type into two parts called the feet.
1918 A. A. Stewart Type 20 On the opposite end [of the mold] (which is the foot of the type) is an opening through which the melted metal in injected.
2010 D. Dabner et al. Graphic Design School (ed. 4) iii. 66 (caption) A block of letterpress type... a face,..f groove, g foot.
c. The lower part of a flue pipe in an organ, through which the wind is received and conducted. Cf. pipe-foot n. at pipe n.1 Compounds 2.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > the arts > music > musical instrument > keyboard instrument > organ > [noun] > parts supporting pipes
foot1828
rack board1840
pipe holder1847
rack1853
pipe rack1855
rack pillar1876
boot1880
rack pin1881
1828 Oxf. Encycl. IV. at Organ Enlarging or diminishing the aperture of the foot..consequently regulates the quantity of wind admitted into the pipe.
1852 tr. J. J. Seidel Organ & its Constr. 78 The foot upon which the whole pipe rests.
1876 J. Hiles Catech. Organ (1878) iv. 25 The foot [of a wooden organ pipe] is a tube introduced at the bottom of the pipe; it serves as a support, and also as a conductor of the wind.
1905 G. A. Audsley Art Organ-building II. xxiv. 225 This precaution will prevent the feet of the pipes being pinched, or lifted from their holes.
1988 Organbuilder May 2/2 The lower compartments had pipes suspended by their feet—a decorative feature to be found in some Classical Continental designs but unprecedented in Britain.
2009 J. R. Shannon Understanding Pipe Organ ix. 130 Feet can literally compress under the weight of a pipe.
d. In a sewing machine: an attachment for holding fabric flat as it is fed through the machine, held in position above the stitch plate by a vertical shaft and typically taking the form of a small, horizontal plate terminating in two upturned prongs between which the needle passes; = presser foot n. at presser n.1 Compounds.
ΘΚΠ
the world > textiles and clothing > textiles > textile manufacture > manufacture textile fabric or that which consists of > sewing or ornamenting textile fabric > [noun] > sewing > equipment for > sewing-machine > parts of or attachments for
presser bar1813
flat bed1819
shuttle1847
foot1854
looper1857
take-up1859
work holder1859
feller1860
shuttle-carrier1860
binder1865
braider1866
ruffler1868
presser foot1875
shuttle-windera1877
tension-device1877
thread-cutter1877
thread-oiler1877
tuck-creaser1877
tucking-gauge1877
tuck-marker1877
thread-guide1924
zipper foot1938
free arm1948
balance-wheel1961
tuck-folder-
1854 U.S. Patent 10,875 1/2 A rod, P, attached to the cross-head Q, has a foot, h, upon it which holds the cloth against a plate, i, on the table while the needle is being drawn out of the cloth.
1873 Amer. Agriculturalist Feb. 74/3 Within the upright portion of the arm is a spiral spring that holds the foot firmly to the cloth.
1938 Pop. Mech. Sept. 426/2 Lacking a special foot for stitching welt seams, one home craftsman made one from an extra standard foot for the household sewing machine.
1967 E. Short Embroidery & Fabric Collage iii. 86 An experienced machine embroiderer can, by dropping the feed and removing the foot, work the most intricate designs in free running.
2011 C. Phillips Sewing Machine Classroom ii. 51 This foot is suitable for all fabrics. It keeps fabric together and flat without puckering.
12. The lower part of one of the legs of a chair, table, etc.
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > relative position > end or extremity > [noun] > lower end > of the leg of a chair, a tree, etc.
foota1387
toec1440
a1387 J. Trevisa tr. R. Higden Polychron. (St. John's Cambr.) (1872) IV. 155 (MED) Þe gentil men..slowȝ two hondred of þe peple wiþ feet and gobouns of chayers, of formes, and of stooles.
c1450 J. Lydgate Secrees (Sloane 2464) l. 578 (MED) To stonde vp ryght on a thre foot stool.
a1527 R. Thorne in R. Hakluyt Divers Voy. (1582) sig. Cv Set the one foote of the compasse in the saide transuersall lyne at the ende of the nether scale.
1551 R. Record Pathway to Knowl. i. iii. sig. c.ij Set one foote of the compasse in the verye point of the angle.
1605 F. Bacon Of Aduancem. Learning i. sig. B3v The highest Linke of Natures chaine must needes be tyed to the foote of Iupiters chaire.
1633 J. Done tr. ‘Aristeas’ Aunc. Hist. Septuagint 179 Ten Table-beds or Couches of ease, which had the feete of Siluer.
1721 E. Stone Descr. Sector 19 Open the Sector, so as the Feet of the Compasses may stand in the Points of the Number given on each of the Lines of Lines.
1778 T. Malton Compleat Treat. Perspective (ed. 2) iii. 233 A round Pier Table..with tapering, term Feet.
1879 R. K. Douglas Confucianism iv. 95 A chair which..stands unevenly on its feet, is useless as a support.
1882 C. B. Comstock Rep. Primary Triangulation U.S. Lake Surv. x. 274 Its [sc. the tube stand's] feet are not far from the corresponding feet of the microscope-stand.
1907 G. O. Wheeler Old Eng. Furnit. 461 Therming, a process of conferring a delicate taper, especially applied to the feet of chairs, sideboards, and tables of the Sheraton order.
1955 Times 7 July 5/7 Carved tripods terminating in claw-and-ball feet (4 ft. high).
2006 C. Gleason Building Real Furnit. for Everyday Life xiii. 117 (caption) You can attach little rubber bumpers to the feet of the table legs to protect your floors from scuffs.
13. Zoology. A part of the body serving as an organ of locomotion or attachment in various invertebrates other than arthropods; esp. (a) the flattened, muscular, mucus-producing ventral part of the body of a mollusc; (b) a tube foot of a starfish or other echinoderm.Specific technical names are used for certain organs of this type, as parapodium, podium, etc.tube foot: see the first element.
ΘΚΠ
the world > animals > invertebrates > bodies or parts > [noun] > limb or appendage
arma1398
foot1598
1598 A. M. tr. J. Guillemeau Frenche Chirurg. 22/2 Small sproutes, not mislike vnto the feet of the fishe Purpura.
1753 P. Templeman tr. Curious Remarks & Observ. extracted from Hist. & Mem. Royal Acad. Sci. Paris I. 103 Their progressive motion is performed in the same manner as that of snails, by means of a large muscular part, to which we may give the name of foot or pastern in snails.
1835 W. Kirby On Power of God in Creation of Animals I. v. 177 The foot, or base by which the common coral is attached to the rocks.
1856 T. H. Huxley in Med. Times & Gaz. 12 July 27/2 Laterally the somite is produced into two thick processes..which I propose to denominate ‘parapodia’, as a single substantive term equivalent to the phrases ‘pedal tubercle’, ‘foot’, etc.
1875 Good Words May 358/2 By aid of its hundreds of protruded feet..the starfish is thus enabled to move slowly but surely.
1935 Illustr. London News 15 June 1066/1 (caption) The mucus is exuded from the foot of the snail as soon as it is safely settled in its winter retreat.
1965 New Scientist 11 Mar. 639/1 The most extreme example of this is the highly modified foot of the limpet.
2013 A. J. Martin Life Traces Georgia Coast 267 A moon snail on the prowl for live fodder depends on its huge, muscular foot for implementing an attack.
14. Botany.
†a. = footstalk n. 1. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
the world > plants > part of plant > reproductive part(s) > flower or part containing reproductive organs > [noun] > parts of > petal > part of
foot1626
unguis1728
1626 F. Bacon New Atlantis 23 in Sylua Syluarum And the other a Cluster of Grapes of Gold, with a long Foote or Stalke.
1672 N. Grew Anat. Veg. v. 131 The Foot of each Leaf being very long and slender.
b. A root-like structure, spec. in the embryo of a bryophyte or fern.
ΘΚΠ
the world > plants > particular plants > ferns > [noun] > parts of
crooka1398
brake-root1626
indusium1807
membranula1821
sorus1832
foot1862
crosier1874
fruit-dot1880
fiddle-head1882
saddle1882
fern-cup1888
stomium1905
annulus-
1862 F. Currey tr. W. Hofmeister On Germination Higher Cryptogamia vii. 200 (note) The foot-like appendage by which the young fern is attached to the prothallium. Only a few of the cells of the rudiment of the root take part in the formation of this ‘foot’.
1891 A. Johnstone Botany 144 The part within the epidermal surface developing into the foot, and the protruded portion into the body of the hair.
1945 W. O. Howarth & L. G. G. Warne Lowson's Textbk. Bot. (ed. 9) xiv. 384 The two superior hypobasal octants give rise to an embryonic organ called the foot.
1992 M. Ingrouille Diversity & Evol. Land Plants 97 In each case the sporophyte consists of only a foot, a stalk called the seta and a single sporangium called the capsule.
2001 H. A. Crum Struct. Diversity Bryophytes 211 The capsule develops from the epibasal cell, whereas the hypobasal cell forms only the foot, if any.
15. Any of the smaller marginal plates of the carapace of the hawksbill turtle. Also called nose (see nose n. 7c). Cf. head n.1 53. Now rare or disused.
ΚΠ
1849 Jrnl. Indian Archipel. & Eastern Asia 3 271 The edge of the scale or of the back is further covered with 25 thin pieces joined to each other, which in commerce are known under the appellation of feet or noses [Du. voetjes of neusjes] of the tortoise.
1858 P. L. Simmonds Dict. Trade Products Feet, a commercial name given to the twenty-five small plates of tortoise-shell, from the edges of the carapace.
1907 A. L. Winton tr. T. F. Hanausek Microsc. Techn. Prod. ii. viii. 433 About the border of the shell twenty-five marginal plates, which because of their thick claw-like form are known as ‘claws’, ‘feet’, or ‘noses’.
V. The lowest part of something, and related senses.
16.
a. Nautical. The lower or bottom edge of a sail.In quot. OE apparently with specific reference to the lower corner of a triangular sail; compare Isidore Origines 19. 3. 4 (the ultimate source), and also quot. OE at foot rope n. 1.
ΘΚΠ
society > travel > travel by water > vessel, ship, or boat > equipment of vessel > masts, rigging, or sails > sail > [noun] > lower side or bottom
footOE
OE Antwerp-London Gloss. (2011) 123 Sipara, anes fotes segl.
1697 W. Dampier New Voy. around World xviii. 495 We rolled up the foot of our Sail on a pole fastned to it.
1769 W. Falconer Universal Dict. Marine Foot of a sail, lower edge or bottom.
1794 D. Steel Elements & Pract. Rigging & Seamanship I. 162 The Square-sail-boom is lashed across the deck of vessels with one mast, to spread the foot of the square-sail.
1819 D. Lever Young Sea Officer's Sheet Anchor (ed. 2) 50 A Bolt Rope..is of different denominations according as it is sewn to the Head, Foot, or Leech.
1882 G. S. Nares Seamanship (ed. 6) 127 Carry up the foot.
1912 Mariner′s Mirror 2 158/2 The foot of the sail was boused down with luffs to any convenient ring-bolts.
1983 Yachting Feb. 64/1 If the sea conditions are unusually smooth, the pole can be over-squared and the sheet overtrimmed to stretch the foot of the sail out more.
2008 Cruising World June 82/2 Headsails designed for offshore cruising are cut high on the foot so they don't scoop up tons of water in a seaway when they're eased for reaching.
b. The lowest part or bottom of an elevation (such as a hill, mountain, etc.), or of any object in an upright or sloping position (such as a wall, staircase, ladder, etc.); the area immediately surrounding this. Frequently in prepositional phrases.
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > relative position > low position > [noun] > lowest position
foota1200
bottomc1400
lowmost1578
lowest1640
undermost1822
the world > space > relative position > low position > [noun] > lowest position > bottom or lowest part
bottomeOE
foota1200
lowestc1225
roota1382
tailc1390
founcea1400
basement1610
sole1615
fund1636
foot piece1657
footing1659
underneath1676
bottom side1683
ass1700
doup1710
keel1726
a1200 MS Trin. Cambr. in R. Morris Old Eng. Homilies (1873) 2nd Ser. 89 On þe fot of þe dune þe men clepen munt oliuete.
a1325 (c1250) Gen. & Exod. (1968) l. 1303 Ðan he cam dun to ðo dunes fot.
a1387 J. Trevisa tr. R. Higden Polychron. (St. John's Cambr.) (1871) III. 65 At þe foot of þe hille mount Olympus.
c1450 Alphabet of Tales (1904) I. 256 (MED) He bade with hym..at þe fute of þe Mownt Saynt Michell.
1496 J. Alcock Mons Perfeccionis (de Worde) sig. civv The fote therof [sc. the ladder] stode by hym.
1549 W. Thomas Hist. Italie f. 137 Florence, an excellent faire citee, standeth at the foote of the Appenine hilles.
1582 N. Lichefield tr. F. L. de Castanheda 1st Bk. Hist. Discouerie E. Indias ii. 6 b A man..who was going to gather honny at the foote of a bush.
1598 W. Shakespeare Henry IV, Pt. 1 i. ii. 38 Now in as low an ebbe as the foot of the ladder. View more context for this quotation
1667 J. Milton Paradise Lost iii. 485 And now at foot Of Heav'ns ascent they lift thir Feet. View more context for this quotation
1678 Trial of Coleman 44 At the Foot of the Stair-case.
1717 G. Berkeley Let. 17 Apr. in Wks. (1871) IV. 80 Torre del Greco, a town situate at the foot of Vesuvius.
1779 J. Burgoyne Let. to Constituents 15 Even the feet of the gallows, were resorted to for other recruits.
?1790 T. Nicholls Wreath 76 I am content to gather the wild thyme blossoms round the mountain's spacious foot.
1831 Blackwood's Edinb. Mag. Oct. 685/2 Bheemsi accompanied him to the foot of the fortress.
1860 J. Tyndall Glaciers of Alps i. ii. 68 A forest of dark pines..gathered like a cloud at the foot of the mountain.
1944 I. Origo Diary 28 June in War in Val d'Orcia (1947) 211 The Germans..destroy the magnificent Medicean gateway at the foot of the town.
1987 L. Lowry Rabbie Starkey xi. 119 Mr. Bigelow called from the foot of the stairs. ‘Girls! Time to set the table!’.
2005 Evo June 114/3 Visibility is good for most of the climb up to the foot of Snaefell.
c. Either end of a bridge. Cf. head n.1 26b.Recorded earliest in bridge foot at bridge n.1 Compounds 1.Sometimes difficult to distinguish from sense A. 10.
ΘΚΠ
society > travel > means of travel > route or way > other means of passage or access > [noun] > bridge > parts of
pierlOE
bridge foota1450
heada1450
staddling1461
foota1500
bridge end1515
jowel1516
causey1523
starling?c1684
rib1735
spur1736
icebreaker1744
jetty1772
cutwater1776
roadway1798
sleeper1823
water-breaker1823
centrya1834
stem1835
suspension-tower1842
cantilever1850
semi-beam1850
pylon1851
half-chess1853
span1862
sway-bracing1864
needle-beam1867
ice apron1871
newel1882
flood-arch1891
needle girder1898
sway-brace1909
trough flooring1911
a1500 (?c1450) Merlin xiv. 227 Here be-fore the yates at the brigge foote.
1523 Ld. Berners tr. J. Froissart Cronycles I. ccccxiiii. f. ccxciii/1 The flemynges..helde them selfe styll at the foote of the bridge.
1588 E. Aggas tr. F. de La Noue Politicke & Mil. Disc. 385 The Duke of Guize..pitched his camp before the towne & his first attempt was to winne the suburbs at the foot of the bridge.
1686 T. Otway tr. S. de Broë Hist. Triumvirates II. xxx. 378 Caesar and Antonius advanced, each with 300 Men a-piece, whom they left at the foot of those Bridges which had been made there for that present purpose.
1739 C. Labelye Short Acct. Piers Westm. Bridge p. vi Westminster-Bridge Foot.
1800 London Chron. 31 July 116/2 Two French and two Austrian centinels are placed at either foot of the bridge.
1802 E. Forster tr. Arabian Nights V. 47 They passed this bridge, at the foot of which they met with an old blind man.
1965 Antioch Rev. 25 277 I stopped short at the foot of the bridge.
1995 Virginian Pilot & Ledger-Star 18 June c3/4 A three-car tail-ender at the south foot of the bridge cost us another 15 minutes.
d. Geometry. Of a line or curve: a point of intersection with a given geometric figure (such as a line, or curve) or entity (such as a plane). Chiefly in foot of the perpendicular.In early use sometimes with the sense of the point from which a line or curve is drawn, this point typically being located on another geometric figure.
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > number > geometry > point > [noun] > of intersection or contact
toucha1398
touchpoint1585
foot1652
contact1660
section?1677
origin1723
node1866
biflecnode1879
intersect1886
meet1893
1652 T. Stirrup Horometria 170 Draw the horizontall line of your plane A B, which line in all upright planes must be drawn through the point L, the foot of the perpendicular stile.
1675 E. Sherburne tr. M. Manilius Sphere sig. A8v A Line passing through the Vertex of the Cone..and the Foot of that Perpendicular.
1715 H. Wilson Navigation new Modell’d i. 5 The Distance from the Beginning or Foot of the Tangent Line to that Part of it where a Line..cuts the Tangent Line.
1764 B. Martin New & Comprehensive Syst. Math. Inst. II. xv. 205 The Quotient will be the Distance PT of the Shaddow T, from the Foot of the Perpendicular P.
1840 D. Lardner Treat. Geom. xii. 147 The point..where the perpendicular meets the plane, is called the foot of the perpendicular.
1874 Analyst 1 191 The foot of the perpendicular from O′ upon BC and the middle point of PL are both upon the circumference of the nine-point circle.
1922 H. E. Hawkes et al. Solid Geom. vi. 324 Can a line have two feet in a given plane and at the same time cut the plane?
2010 C. Alsina & R. B. Nelsen Charming Proofs xii. 219 Let Q be the foot of the perpendicular from P to the x-axis.
†17.
a. The sum or total of a column of numbers in an account, typically recorded directly below the final entry in the column; the action of calculating and entering this. Cf. footing n. 12. Obsolete except as passing into sense A. 19a.
ΘΚΠ
society > trade and finance > management of money > keeping accounts > account or statement of > [noun] > account book > difference between sides > specific
foot1433
fault1665
rest1670
balance (in hand)1771
account balance1789
carryover1873
carryforward1894
overrun1899
carryback1941
1433 in M. Sellers York Mercers & Merchant Adventurers (1918) 39 First, the saide maister and constables hafe resayved in mone tolde, iiijli. ijs. xd., as it profes be the fote of accounte of the yere past.
1480 Wardrobe Accts. Edward IV in N. H. Nicolas Privy Purse Expenses Elizabeth of York (1830) 154 (note) The foote of the deliveree of stuff.
1520 in W. L. Nash Churchwardens' Acct. Bk. St. Giles, Reading (1851) 8 In the ffote of the same accompte xjli xiiijs vijd.
1553 J. Peele Maner & Fourme Perfecte Reconyng viii. sig. Biiij Entendyng to procede with makyng of your Balaunce, beyng otherwise called, the fote of your accompte.
1623 L. Andrewes 96 Serm.: Nativity (1629) xvi. 148 So, it signifies to make the foot of an account. We call it the foot, because we write it below at the foot.
1692 J. Dryden Cleomenes iv. i. 46 A trifling sum of Misery, New added to the foot of thy Account.
1712 R. Steele Spectator No. 346. ⁋1 The generous man..will soon find upon the foot of his account that he has sacrificed to fools.
b. The refrain or chorus of a song. Also in to bear a foot: to sing a refrain or chorus. Obsolete (historical and rare in later use).
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > the arts > music > performing music > singing > sing [verb (intransitive)] > sing refrain
to bear a foot1538
to bear a bob1606
society > leisure > the arts > music > type of music > vocal music > a song > [noun] > refrain
refraid?a1439
overword?a1513
refrain1530
foot1538
counterverse1570
faburden1580
burden1598
holding1598
chorus1601
foreburden1603
bob1606
ludden1607
down1611
nonnya1616
rame?c1625
tag1717
overcome?a1800
overturn1825
1538 T. Elyot Dict. Intercalaris uersus, a syngular verse, often repeted amonge other verses. Some doo call it, in englyshe balades and songes, the foote or refrette of a ditie.
1552 R. Huloet Abcedarium Anglico Latinum Dittye synger, or he that beareth ye fote of the songs, præsentor [sic].
c1568 in F. J. Furnivall R. Laneham's Let. (1871) Pref. 127 Here entreth Moros..Synging the foote of many Songes, as fooles were wont.
1603 R. Knolles Gen. Hist. Turkes 777 A souldior..sung a dolefull dittie..whereunto his fellows sighing bare a foot.
1621 J. Molle tr. P. Camerarius Liuing Libr. v. ii. 322 In praise of him certaine jygges were made which the yong lads vsed to sing..the foot of them was this; A thousand, thousand, thousand, we..[etc.].
1696 C. Ness Compl. Hist. & Myst. Old & New Test. II. 338 In this was inserted this Song, the foot and burden whereof was, [How are the Mighty faln?] oft repeated.
1865 R. G. White Mem. Shakespeare 377 This brings to mind Shakespeare's fools and clowns, who are always singing the foot of many songs.
1910 A. G. Newcomer & A. E. Andrews Twelve Cent. Eng. Poetry & Prose 36/2 (heading) (Foot) Sing Cuckoo now, sing Cuckoo.
18. Plural foots. That which sinks to and lies at the bottom of something; esp. the dregs or remnants of a liquid; the refuse or remains resulting from the process of refining something . Cf. foot grease n., foot sugar n.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > cleanness and dirtiness > dirtiness > pollution or defilement > [noun] > specific impurities > sediment
drastc1000
groundsa1340
ground-sopec1440
hovec1440
faecesa1475
groundingsa1475
fex1540
suds1548
grummel1558
foot1560
grout1697
sludge1702
faecula1815
society > occupation and work > materials > derived or manufactured material > extracted or refined oil > [noun] > residue of
oil-dregs?1440
motherc1485
foam of oil1538
foot1687
the world > physical sensation > cleanness and dirtiness > dirtiness > pollution or defilement > [noun] > specific impurities > sediment > of oil
foot1687
foot dirt1811
sludge1920
the world > food and drink > food > additive > sweetener > [noun] > sugar > coarse sugar
gur1686
groat-sugar1743
bastard1766
foot sugar1818
rapadura1824
gur1834
piloncillo1844
pilonci1845
foot1871
1560 Let. 5 May in R. Hakluyt Princ. Navigations (1598) I. 306 Much of this Waxe had a great foote..You must cause the foote to bee taken off before you doe weigh it.
1640 J. Parkinson Theatrum Botanicum xvi. xv. 1440 The foote or dregges of oyle, the older it is the better it is for divers purposes, as to heale the scabbe in man.
1647 N. Nye Art of Gunnery i. 11 Fill up the Barrel with..earth..afterwards pour..clean water upon the earth..then pull out the Taps or Spiggots..and let the water drop out of that vessel into another..this water when it hath dropped twice, is called water of Foot.
1687 B. Randolph Present State Archipel. 91 They raise the foot of the oyl, so that thick and thin goes together.
1790 Ann. Agric. 13 502 I was informed by Mr. Wilfred Reed..that he could supply me with the bottoms or foots of oil.
1861 Jrnl. Soc. Arts 1 Feb. 158/2 The very coarsest and darkest-coloured sugars (popularly known as foots).
1871 Daily News 5 Jan. Lump sugar is 13d. a pound, foots moist 9d.
1888 F. T. Elworthy W. Somerset Word-bk. Foots, dregs, sediment. This here cyder 'ont suit me, there's to much voots in it.
1923 Western Canner & Packer Feb. 122/1 (heading) Treasury decision places ruling on olive oil foots.
1957 R. W. Beachey Brit. W. Indies Sugar Industry iii. 71 The reputation that Barbados sugar had for being full of ‘foots’ and streaks was largely attributable to this practice of oscillation.
2000 M. Serpico & R. White in P. T. Nicholson & I. Shaw Anc. Egyptian Materials & Technol. xvii. 407/1 In both methods [of clarifying oil], the ‘foots’ can be dredged off, placed in cloth and pressed to remove any residual oil.
19. Frequently after a preposition, esp. in at the foot of.
a. The lower end or bottom of a page, document, list, etc.Sometimes also in † at foot: at the bottom of a page (obsolete).
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > relative position > end or extremity > [noun] > lower end
heel?c1450
foot1561
bottom1621
breech1678
talon1869
1561 R. Eden tr. M. Cortés Arte Nauigation ii. iii. sig. D.iv The signes whose declination increaseth, are in the head or fronte of the Table, and the degrees of these figures descende by the left syde therof. And the signes whose declination decreaseth, are in the foote of the Table.
1593 T. Fale Horologiographia xxx. f. 59 The Degrees in the last columne doe serue for the Signes in the foote of the Table.
1643 Decl. New Loans (single sheet) The said Church-wardens and Overseers for the poor having subscribed their names at the foot of one part of the said Schedule indented.
1683 J. Moxon Mech. Exercises II. 231 He claps the Fingers of his Left Hand about the Foot of the Page.
1752 G. G. Beekman Let. 6 June in Beekman Mercantile Papers (1956) I. 144 At foot you have my Own remarks of the many Errors on your last Letters.
1791 J. Boswell Life Johnson anno 1775 I. 460 How it ended I know not, as it is cut off abruptly at the foot of the last of these proof pages.
1855 B. Thorpe Pref. to Beowulf (1875) 8 Placing the proposed correction at foot.
1896 D. E. Jones & G. A. Schott tr. H. Hertz Misc. Papers xix. 307 The scale of heights is marked at the foot of the diagram.
1934 V. Steer Printing Design & Layout xvi. 293 Footnotes are explanatory notes at the foot of the page.
1959 Jrnl. Egyptian Archaeol. 45 74 The signature at the foot of the document is obviously written in a different hand.
2014 Sun (Nexis) 26 Dec. 80 Send your pics and full details to the email address at the foot of the page.
b. The position at a table (usually at one end) opposite that of the head (head n.1 18b), sometimes regarded as the least honoured or important. Later also more generally: one end of a table.
ΘΚΠ
the world > food and drink > food > setting table > [noun] > place at table
table room1607
bottom1629
board-head1637
board-enda1652
foot1700
plate1917
1700 Information for Ld. Basil Hamilton conc. Election Commissioner of Wigton 4 It was whispered amongst the Barons at the Foot of the Table..That they would be run down, unless the Lords were sent for.
1778 R. Tickell Anticipation 66 Monsieur de Sartine..was at the foot of the table; and we put Buccarelli in the chair.
1829 E. Bulwer-Lytton Disowned I. ii. 28 Are you still gabbling at the foot of the table.
1884 G. Moore Mummer's Wife (1887) 223 He was invited to take the foot of the table and help the cold salmon.
1924 Aeronaut. Diplomacy 219 337 France..was not to be caught at the foot of the table a second time—and if the French maintain their present aerial supremacy, their place at the head of any future conference table is assured.
1951 G. Heyer Quiet Gentleman xi. 173 She was seated at the foot of the dinner-table.
2010 W. Eversohn October Killings xviii. 128 Bishop sat at the head... No one sat at the foot of the table.
c. The bottom of a list; the position of lowest priority on a list. Also: the position at the back of a class; the lowest or last position in a school class; cf. head of the class at class n. and adj. Phrases 1.
ΚΠ
1809 Scots. Mag. Feb. 112/1 Three who are newly elected will be added to the foot of the list.
1854 Mich. Jrnl. Educ. Oct. 323 The assistant tutor..walked to the foot of the class, took Webster by the arm and marched him..to the head.
1905 Worcester Mag. Jan. 9/1 Massachusetts, if near the very foot of the list in mere geographical area, is seventh in order of population.
1957 E. Paul That Crazy Amer. Music 243 The contemporary crop of rock and roll dancers include the young folks near the head or toward the foot of each class.
1989 Times 13 Sept. 32/1 The obvious solution..stays firmly at the foot of the agenda.
2009 Econ. Hist. Rev. 62 725 Westmorland and Devon were again towards the foot of the list.
d. Chiefly U.S. On a billiard or pool table: the end at which the object balls are racked; the end opposite the baulk. Frequently attributive.In the United Kingdom the more usual word for this end of a billiard table is top (top n.1 8a).
ΚΠ
1833 Court Mag. Oct. 165/1 I was witnessing a game at billiards... I advanced to the foot of the table, and placing my eye directly above its horizon, awaited the result.
1850 M. Phelan Billiards without Master 47 Fifteen balls..are arranged in the form of a triangle,..the base of the triangle being parallel with the end or foot cushion of the table.
1909 R. F. Foster Compl. Hoyle (rev. ed.) 649 The 1 and 2 balls must be spotted, respectively, at the foot of the table.
1993 D. Meurin Billiards 82 The fifteen object balls are racked in a triangle on the foot spot.
2010 N. Leider Pool & Billiards for Dummies v. xxi. 312 Tables have rails or channels that go from each pocket to a return tray by the foot of the table.
20. Law. In full foot of a fine n. (plural feet of fines) that one of the parts of a tripartite indenture formerly used to record the particulars of a fine (see fine n.1 9b), which remained with the court, the other two being retained by the parties.When the undivided sheet was placed so that this counterfoil could be read, the foot was actually at the bottom of the parchment (extant feet of fines therefore have their indentation at the top). The direction of the writing in the other two counterparts was at right angles to that of the foot.
ΘΚΠ
society > law > transfer of property > types of transfer > charter or deed conveying property > [noun] > charter or deed conveying land > (part of) indenture of a fine
foot of a fine1581
chirograph1671
1581 Act 23 Eliz. c. 3. §1 The Concorde, Note and Fote of everye suche Fyne.
1589 Sir T. Smith's Common-welth (rev. ed.) xiv. 75 All the proclamations of the same fine, according to the statutes made, are endorced on the third part remayning, and it is commonly called the foote of the fine.
1607 J. Cowell Interpreter sig. X1/1 The custos breuium keepeth the concord and the foote of the fine, vpon the which foote the chirographer doth cause the proclamations to be indorsed.
1687 W. Leonard Fourth Pt. Rep. Cases of Law 104 If the Devisor levieth a Fine, and the Disseisee in preservation of his right against the said Fine, enter his Claim in the Record at the Foot of the said Fine..the same is not any Claim to avoid the said Fine.
1703 Law of Errors & Writs of Errors xxix. 272 Thereupon a Writ issued to the Custos brevium to bring into Court the foot of the Fine, and it was presently cancelled in Court.
1783 W. Cruise Ess. Nature & Operation of Fines viii. 96 The proclamations which were indorsed on the foot of a fine, were allowed to be amended according to the proclamations on the note of the fine.
1875 K. E. Digby Introd. Hist. Law Real Prop. ii. 77 A document was drawn up, called in later times the foot, chirograph, or indenture of the fine.
1894 Publ. Pipe Roll Soc. XVII. p. v In these volumes the Feet of Fines are arranged by Counties, in alphabetical order.
1917 Yale Law Jrnl. 27 235 The court having examined the foot of the fine, found that Ganfridus..held one messuage with the appurtenances in Coventry of Geva during her life, at a rental of six shillings.
1998 Chaucer Rev. 32 285 A record of the compromise, known as the ‘foot’ of the fine, goes into the Royal Treasury as a protection against forgery.
†21. Archery. Apparently: an arrow which lands below or falls from a target. Obsolete. rare.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > competitive shooting > archery > [noun] > types of shot
upshot1531
blue1830
black1845
foot1923
1923 Daily Mail 18 July 3 Several of the Woodmen..made what are known as ‘thumbs’..and ‘foots’, the arrow in this case lying against one leg of the target.
VI. Footing, standing; basis.
†22. A secure position, a foothold; standing, status. Frequently in to get foot: to gain a secure position from which further progress may be made. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
the world > time > change > absence of change, changelessness > stability, fixity > [noun] > established position
footc1425
footing1567
c1425 J. Lydgate Troyyes Bk. (Augustus A.iv) ii. l. 5754 (MED) Somme also so toty in her hede..haue no foot for to stonde vp-riȝt.
1577 W. Harrison Hist. Descr. Islande Brit. i. ii. f. 1v/2, in R. Holinshed Chron. I If they had once gotten foote into any Region whatsoeuer, it woulde not be long ere they did..increase their limites to the better maintenance of themselues and their posteritie for euermore.
1579 L. Tomson tr. J. Calvin Serm. Epist. S. Paule to Timothie & Titus 148/1 Their getting foote may be to their owne destruction.
1603 Whole Prophesie Scotl. sig. A iij And falset shal haue foote fullie fiue yeares.
1652 F. Kirkman tr. A. Du Périer Loves Clerio & Lozia 113 Hinder new love from getting foot in her heart.
1662 H. More Coll. Philos. Writings (ed. 2) Pref. Gen. p. xix Considering also how far that Philosophy has already got foot in Christendome.
a1686 T. Watson Body Pract. Divinity (1692) 251 That such a Religion ever get foot in England, the Lord in Mercy prevent.
a1692 ( in J. Stevenson Lett. & Papers Illustr. Wars Eng. in France (1864) II. 447 The puissance and might of youre enemyes, and foote that they have goten ageinst you there.
23.
a. The footing, understanding, or basis on which something is established or operates; = footing n. 16. In later use frequently with adjective expressing comparison, as equal, same, etc.
ΘΚΠ
the world > existence and causation > causation > basis or foundation > [noun]
ground1340
root1340
substancec1384
fundament1395
foundationc1400
groundment?a1412
footing1440
anvila1450
bottom ground1557
groundwork1557
foot1559
platform1568
subsistence1586
subject matter1600
ground-colour1614
basisa1616
substratum1631
basement1637
bottoma1639
fonda1650
fibre1656
fund1671
fundamen1677
substruction1765
starting ground1802
fundus1839
the world > existence and causation > existence > state or condition > [noun] > of an institution, etc.
foot1559
footing1657
society > society and the community > social relations > [noun] > degree of intimacy or relative status > agreed
foot1559
1559 J. Jewel Let. May in J. Strype Ann. Reformation (1725) I. x. 131 Religion was restored on that foot on which it stood in King Edwards time.
1649 O. Cromwell Let. Lord Lieutenant of Ireland 10 A formal Treaty..is seldom granted, but where the things stand upon a more equal foot.
1686 London Gaz. No. 2116/1 The Salaries of all Officers..are likewise retrenched. The Councils..are to be reduced to the foot they were upon in the Year 1621.
1707 J. Freind Acct. Earl of Peterborow's Conduct in Spain 7 Matters were set upon a new Foot.
1763 H. Walpole Vertue's Anecd. Painting III. v. 147 Boit,..was upon so low a foot, that he went into the country, and taught children to draw.
1767 B. Franklin Let. 5 May in Wks. (1887) IV. 9 I wish all correspondence was on the foot of writing and answering when one can.
1800 W. Roberts Treat. on Constr. Statutes Conveyances 241 They stand on a different foot as to their final object.
1827 R. Pollok Course of Time II. ix. 192 When he should stand on equal foot beside The man he wronged.
1917 G. S. Hellman in Mem. Comte de Mercy Argenteau p. xxxiv His willingness to further sanitary construction ran on equal foot with his desire for such restoration as that which Mercy Argenteau writes of in connection with the palace at Versailles.
1999 Advocate 31 Aug. 18/3 Everybody is on an equal foot in this world.
†b. on (or upon) the foot of: by reason of; on the grounds of. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
the world > existence and causation > causation > cause or reason > [adverb] > because of or by reason of
for (one's, a thing's) sake?c1225
for sake of1340
because1356
for the sake of1393
on (also upon) account of1625
thanks to1631
on the foot of1675
on the ground of1882
1675 W. Penn England's Present Interest 43 They are thus far condemnable upon the Foot of Prudence.
1683 W. Rogers Scourge for George Whitehead 11 Methinks G. W. should be ashamed of his ridiculous Opposition on the foot of his Skill in Law.
1713 E. Gibson Codex Juris Eccl. Anglicani 999 If any Archdeacons are entituled to require Exhibits in their Visitations, it can only be upon the foot of Custom.
a1797 H. Walpole Mem. George II (1847) II. viii. 259 The Prince..excused his own inapplication on the foot of idleness.
c. Irish English. on foot of: consequent and in conformance to (a legal judgment, decision, etc.); on the basis of.
ΚΠ
1818 Jrnl. House of Lords 51 603/1 On foot of which Judgments and Recognizances no Claim had been made since the Execution of the said Trust Deed.
1852 Irish Equity Rep. 13 70 No proceeding had been taken on foot of the recognizance.
1900 Irish Rep. 1 374 Payments were made by Couser upon foot of this order down to the year 1897.
1935 Irish Times 31 Jan. 8/7 The Flying Squad of the Kildare Civic Guards..seized twelve cattle on foot of a warrant for £22.
2014 M. Caball in B. Kane & V. McGowan-Doyle Elizabeth I & Ireland xiii. 295 Barnewall..had been deprived of the treasurership early in 1570 on foot of his failure to produce papers of dispensation for prebendal non-residence.
†24. A standard rate of monetary calculation or valuation. Obsolete.Recorded earliest in under foot (see underfoot adv. 3).
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > judgement or decision > misjudgement > [noun] > underestimation or undervaluing > underestimate
foot1576
wanworth1706
under-estimate1882
1576 G. Whetstone Ortchard of Repentance 11 in Rocke of Regard I bought at worst, yet sould I vnder foote, A poore increase, can spring of such a roote.
1588 H. Oldcastle & J. Mellis Briefe Instr. Accompts sig. Fviijv Vse one Foote or Standerd of money in your accompt in your Leager.
1695 J. Locke Further Considerations conc. Raising Value of Money 49 He must pay twenty per Cent. more for all the Commodities he buys with the Money of the new Foot.
1726 G. Berkeley in A. C. Fraser Life & Lett. G. Berkeley (1871) iv. 137 I know money is at present on a very high foot of exchange.
1734 tr. C. Rollin Anc. Hist. I. 17 The disparity between the ancient and modern measures, which 'tis hard to estimate on a fixed and certain foot.
B. int.
†1. = God's foot int. at god n. and int. Phrases 3b(a). Cf. Phrases 9a. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > language > malediction > oaths > [interjection] > religious oaths (referring to God) > God's foot
God's footc1460
'Sfoot1602
foot1608
1608 J. Day Humour out of Breath ii. sig. Dv Foot are yee not ashamd to stand [printed staud] by like idle ciphers?
2. U.S. colloquial. Used as an exclamation to express annoyance, disbelief or (contemptuous) contradiction. Cf. Phrases 9b.
ΚΠ
1905 Indiana Q. Hist. Mag. 1 170 ‘Jerusalem crickets’, ‘shucks’,..‘oh, foot’, ‘oh, sugar’. Many of these phrases, apparently inoffensive, in reality mean much more than may appear at first glance.
1914 McClure's Mag. May 75/1 His wife explains that Tom doesn't approve of the new dances. ‘Oh foot! I'll teach him.’
1936 M. Mitchell Gone with the Wind xl. 718 Oh foot! Ashley was bred to read books and nothing else.
1989 B. A. Mason Love Life 9 Oh, foot, Jenny! What you're saying is why are you not married and why are you not happy.
2001 J. M. Stacy Maggie Sweet i. 14 ‘She's ruining my life.’ Mother said, ‘Oh, foot, Maggie Sweet!’

Phrases

P1. With reference to position relative to the feet.
a. In prepositional phrases referring to a (literal or figurative) position low on the ground close to a person's foot or feet, and indicating an attitude of supplication, homage, subjection, discipleship, etc., as at a person's feet, before a person's feet, to a person's feet, etc. See also under (also beneath) the foot (or feet) of at Phrases 1b(a).
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > relative position > low position > [phrase] > low on the ground close to a person
at a person's feetOE
society > authority > subjection > obedience > submissiveness > submission > in attitude of submission [phrase]
at a person's feeta1400
OE Ælfric Catholic Homilies: 1st Ser. (Royal) (1997) xxii. 363 Ða geleaffullan brohton heora feoh & ledon hit æt þæra apostola foton.
OE tr. Apollonius of Tyre (1958) xxii. 34 Ðæt mæden þa feol to hyre fæder fotum and cwæð: ‘Ðu arfæsta fæder, gehyr [etc.].’
a1225 (c1200) Vices & Virtues (1888) 145 Cnyle ðar niðer to-foren hise fet.
c1330 Sir Orfeo (Auch.) (1966) l. 441 Al þat in þe palays were Com..& liggeþ adoun to his fete.
c1384 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Douce 369(2)) (1850) Deeds xxii. 3 A man Jew..norischid forsoth in this citee bisydis the feet of Gamaliel.
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 9599 Be-for þe king fote sco stode.
1490 W. Caxton tr. Foure Sonnes of Aymon (1885) xxvi. 550 He cast hymself to the fete of hym.
a1529 J. Skelton Magnyfycence (?1530) sig. Eii I shall flappe hym as a fole to fall at my fete.
1565 T. Cooper Thesaurus at Abijcio Abiicere se alteri ad pedes..to prostrate him self at ones feete in way of intreatie.
1582 T. Bentley Fift Lampe Virginitie 204 O God..we cast our selues downe before the feet of thy maiestie.
1600 W. Shakespeare Merchant of Venice iii. i. 83 I would my daughter were dead at my foote . View more context for this quotation
1658 W. Gurnall Christian in Armour: 2nd Pt. 448 So much awknesse and unwillingnesse to come to Gods foot.
1699 J. Stevens tr. J. de Mariana Gen. Hist. Spain iv. 529 The King came to Tortoles and the Queen falling at his Feet, he knelt down to take her up.
1710 G. Berkeley Treat. Princ. Human Knowl. Ded. p. iii To lay this treatise at your lordship's feet.
1720 A. Pope tr. Homer Iliad VI. xxiii. 28 The bloody Hector stretch'd before thy Feet.
1819 W. Scott Drama in Encycl. Brit.: Suppl. 4th–6th Eds. III. ii. 660/1 The royal bear-ward..lodged a formal complaint at the feet of her majesty.
1847 Dublin Univ. Mag. Oct. 418/1 No less than ten thousand pilgrims..set off to bow before the feet of Narayun.
1861 A. Trollope Barchester Towers xxvii. 215 It was all very well to have Mr. Slope at her feet.
1895 Bookman Oct. 23/1 The lessons that he had learnt at the feet of Mazarin.
1928 Bee (Danville, Va.) 26 Dec. 2/6 As long as we have prideless women who grovel at the feet of the men who mistreat them, we will have husbands who trample their wives and kick them about.
1943 M. Samuel tr. S. Asch Apostle i. v. 51 Why was it that Israel, the chosen people, lay like a bound sheep at the feet of the nations of the world.
2005 Times Lit. Suppl. 11 Feb. 6/2 I looked up to him with gratitude and deep respect, honoured to sit at the feet of the guru.
b. Following under.
(a) under (also beneath) the foot (or feet) of: under the power or control of, or in a state of subjection to, a person; at a person's mercy or absolute disposal. Also in extended use. Cf. underfoot adv. 2.
ΘΚΠ
society > authority > subjection > in or into subjection [phrase] > in or to a person's power
under (also beneath) the foot (or feet) ofeOE
at (also in) the mercy ofa1375
in (also at) (a person's) reverence1596
in a person's lurch1607
at (also occasionally in) mercya1616
eOE (Mercian) Vespasian Psalter (1965) viii. 7 (8) Omnia subiecisti sub pedibus eius : all ðu underdeodes under fotum his.
OE King Ælfred tr. Psalms (Paris) (2001) xlvi. 3 He us underþeodde ure folc, and orlega þeoda he alede under ure fet.
a1225 (?OE) MS Lamb. in R. Morris Old Eng. Homilies (1868) 1st Ser. 129 Al eorðlic þing ure drihten dude under his fotan.
c1225 (?c1200) St. Juliana (Bodl.) 589 Þu..wurpe under hare fet hare fan alle.
a1400 Psalter (Vesp.) viii. 7 in C. Horstmann Yorkshire Writers (1896) II. 139 (MED) Þou vnderlaide alle þinges Vnder his fete.
c1525 Rule St. Francis in J. S. Brewer & R. Howlett Monumenta Franciscana (1882) II. 74 (MED) We, alwaies beyng subjectis and subdued vndre the fete of the same holy chirche.
1574 J. Whitgift Def. Aunswere to Admon. 243 You will say that it is more commendable to helpe him, who is sufficiently armed, and able to resist, than him that is altogether vnarmed, and as it were vnder the foote of his enimy.
1600 W. Shakespeare Henry IV, Pt. 2 (2nd issue) iii. i. 58 Who..laied his loue and life vnder my foote. View more context for this quotation
1674 U. Oakes Unconquerable Souldier 19 He is under the feet of his Enemies.
1721 J. Dart Westminster-Abbey 6 Here [Princes] lay their Heads beneath the Foot of Fate.
1790 J. Edwards Salvation All Men xii. 216 An enemy may be..put entirely under the power, or under the feet of the conqueror.
1867 A. Trollope Last Chron. Barset II. lxiii. 209 Mr. Crawley was now but a broken reed, and was beneath his feet.
1896 Arena Apr. 773 His was an empire constructed for despotic purposes, weak in its parts under the foot of a tyrant.
1915 Rep. Proc. 35th Ann. Convent. Amer. Federation Labor 182/1 The trades unionism there was under the foot of the military authorities.
1994 T. M. Finser School as Journey v. 100 The use of an unrelenting, rhythmical beat..can submerge human consciousness in a way that can place people firmly under the foot of a dictator.
(b) under a person's feet: in a person's way; continually in a person's presence so as to become an annoyance or obstruction. Cf. underfoot adv. 5.
ΚΠ
1848 O. S. Fowler Maternity iii. 125 I am worn down with labor by day, and watching by night, and have squalling children always under my feet.
1894 Harper's New Monthly Mag. June 102/2 She will marry her Goro, and then he will be so constantly under my feet that I shall end by installing him as my gardener for life.
1933 ‘B. Ross’ Trag. of Z i. 5 I recall dimly getting under father's feet as a child, pestering him for the goriest details of the crimes he was investigating.
1988 G. McCaughrean Pack of Lies ii. 11 Her mother smiled wanly. ‘He's been no trouble at all. Really. He hasn't been under my feet or anything.’
2005 M. Lewycka Short Hist. Tractors in Ukrainian xvi. 167 Nikolai could not find a suitable job in Luhansk and mooched around the flat writing poems and getting under everyone's feet.
†c. to foot and hand: so as to attend to all a person's needs or requests. Cf. foot and hand at hand n. Phrases 6a(a), to wait on hand and foot at hand n. Phrases 6a(b). Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > progressive motion > order of movement > following behind > follow [verb (transitive)] > follow closely
to foot and handc1300
to follow foot-hot1513
shadow1602
tantony1675
to stick to ——1801
to tread or follow on the kibes of1820
bedog1858
tag1884
hotfoot1902
society > authority > subjection > service > servant > personal or domestic servant > attendant or personal servant > in attendance [phrase] > in close attendance
to foot and handc1300
c1300 Assumption of Virgin (Cambr. Gg.4.27) (1901) l. 64 Poure and sike he dude god, And seruede hem to hond and fot.
c1330 (?a1300) Sir Tristrem (1886) l. 1281 (MED) Þe quen to fot and hand He serued dern and dere.
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Gött.) l. 6394 Þar had þai watir in wildernes land, Plente for men, to fhote and hand.
c1475 (a1400) Sir Amadace (Taylor) in J. Robson Three Early Eng. Metrical Romances (1842) 50 (MED) I ȝo cummawunde To serue him wele to fote and honde.
d. Expressing accompaniment.
†(a) to follow (a person) to (or at) foot: to follow closely behind (a person). Obsolete.
ΚΠ
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 24031 We folud þam to fote.
1604 W. Shakespeare Hamlet iv. iii. 56 Follow him at foote. View more context for this quotation
(b) with a foal (lamb, etc.) at (her) foot: (of a mare, ewe, etc.) accompanied by a foal, lamb, etc.
ΚΠ
1500 in G. Neilson & H. Paton Acts Lords of Council Civil Causes (1918) II. 360 It was allegit..that the sade Archbald tuke..a cow, a calf and a stirk at hir fute for the sade horse.
1589 R. Payne Briefe Descr. Ireland 10 You may buy the best Heafers there with Calues at their feet. for xx. s. a peece, the which are nothing inferiour to the better sorte of Lyncolnshire breed.
1612 Sir R. Boyle in Lismore Papers (1886) I. 10 5 of them [sc. mares] had horse colte at their feet.
1769 J. Wallis Nat. Hist. Northumberland I. xii. 410 A female, with a calf at her foot, is not to be approached without danger.
1795 Sale Catal. in Notes & Queries (1951) 14 Apr. 157/2 Mare..9 yrs..with fine foal at her foot.
1803 Bury & Norwich Post 28 Sept. 1/2 (advt.) A brood mare with foal at foot.
1903 Southern Planter Apr. 344 (advt.) One thoroughbred Angus cow, unregistered coming 3 yrs., with heifer calf at foot.
1995 Farmers Weekly 21 July 102 (advt.) 150 north country ewes with March born Suffolk lambs at foot for sale.
†e. feet to feet: on the opposite side of the globe in relation to oneself; diametrically opposed. Also feet against feet, foot against foot, foot to foot. Obsolete.
ΚΠ
?a1425 (c1400) Mandeville's Trav. (Titus C.xvi) (1919) 121 Þei þat dwellyn vnder vs ben feet aȝenst feet.
1499 Bk. J. Mandeville (de Worde) sig. S ijv Prester Iohans londe lyethfoot agaynst foot to Englonde.
1553 R. Eden in tr. S. Münster Treat. Newe India Pref. sig. Aiiij The Apostles of Christe were Antipodes the one to the other, and stode feete to feete the one agaynste the other.
1578 T. Cooper Thesaurus (new ed.) Antipodes, people going directly against vs, foote to foot.
1601 R. Dolman tr. P. de la Primaudaye French Acad. III. lv. 252 Men are therefore Antipodes one to another, that is, going feete against feete, hauing neuertheles all of them their heads towards heauen.
1614 J. Sylvester tr. G. de S. Du Bartas Little Bartas in tr. J. Bertaut Parl. Vertues Royal 222 Th'heauie Earth..On th'ample Surface of whose massie Ball, Men (round about) doe trample over-all, Foot against Foot, though still..Their Faces all be towards Heav'n erect.
1682 T. Creech tr. Lucretius De natura rerum i. 32 So as our shadows in smooth streams appear, so feet to feet some Animals walk there.
f. foot to foot [compare Anglo-Norman (combatre) pé a pé (c1343) and earlier hand to hand adv.] : in close combat (literal and figurative). Also occasionally foot against foot. Cf. to set one's foot to (also by) at Phrases 5c.hand to hand adv. and adj. is the more common term.
ΚΠ
1534 G. Joye tr. Dauids Psalter sig. f.iiiv I shall reason with the & set fote to fote agaynst the.
1565 R. Shacklock tr. S. Hozjusz Hatchet of Heresies f. 30v They had prouoked one an other to set fote to fote in disputation.
1603 R. Knolles Gen. Hist. Turkes 879 They encountred one another, not with their missiue weapons onely..but with their drawn swords foot to foot.
a1616 W. Shakespeare Antony & Cleopatra (1623) iii. vii. 66 Fighting foot to foot . View more context for this quotation
1697 J. Dryden tr. Virgil Æneis xi, in tr. Virgil Wks. 569 It shall be seen, weak Woman, what you can, When Foot to Foot, you combat with a Man.
1709 J. Rowe tr. Sallust Historian 67 Both Armies..Ran to Close at the same Time, and setting Foot to Foot with their Adversary, Disputed the Business with Sword in Hand.
1776 T. Smollett in tr. F. de S. de la Mothe-Fénelon Adventures Telemachus II. xvi. 130 Then they close foot against foot, and hand opposed to hand, clinging so close together, that the two bodies seemed but one.
1815 W. A. Scott Battle of Waterloo 164 They saw me fighting foot to foot, sword in hand.
1876 G. Meredith Beauchamp's Career III. iii. 41 He and his uncle were foot to foot in downright conflict, and money was the question.
1903 P. E. Burrowes Revolutionary Ess. 53 It is not as a religion that the Socialist finds himself foot to foot with her [sc. Rome],..but as a feudal political institution.
1921 G. W. Ogden Flockmaster of Poison Creek iv. 37 Here he had stood foot to foot with the strong man of the sheeplands..and had come off the victor.
2011 M. Brennan With Fate Conspire 152 If they stood foot to foot with those thugs, they would lose.
g. Expressing the position of the body in motion.
(a) feet foremost: = feet first at Phrases 1g(b) (in both senses). Now somewhat rare.Feet first became the more common term from the early 20th cent.
ΚΠ
1697 J. Potter Archæologiæ Græcæ I. i. x. 259 The descendant..shoves himself Feet foremost into the cave.
1732 T. Lediard tr. J. Terrasson Life Sethos I. iv. 228 He came out feet foremost.
1752 Adventures of Valet I. x. 237 The luckless Pair continued descending..into the Brook..; they went in Feet foremost.
1856 E. K. Kane Arctic Explor. I. xxix. 384 Hans, Morton and myself crawled feet-foremost into our buffalo-bag.
1859 H. Kingsley Recoll. G. Hamlyn xli. 454 We are going to have a regular battle... Some of us will go home feet foremost to-day.
1910 J. Masefield Trag. Pompey the Great (1914) 12 You'll come to a dumb thing, tied in a sheet, carried out foot-foremost.
1972 G. Wolfe Fifth Head of Cerberus 78 Carefully he sat..and then, feet foremost as a man lets himself into a lower place, climbed into [the gorge of] Thunder Always.
(b) feet first.
(i) Esp. with reference to leaping or plunging downwards: with the feet going first or in front of the rest of the body. Also in figurative contexts: with full commitment, with abandon. Cf. feet foremost at Phrases 1g(a).
ΚΠ
1780 Proc. Old Bailey 6 Dec. 36/1 We got her out with difficulty; she had got in feet first.
1841 J. L. Stephens Incidents Trav. Central Amer. II. xxiii. 406 We bade farewell..and, feet first, descended the steps and set off on a trot.
1888 H. Palmer in Outing Nov. 164/1 He will plunge head first, or feet first, for the bag.
1959 Guardian 3 Dec. 9/1 The ‘Bronx Bagel-babies’—the middle class girls who leap feet first into the vie Bohême.
1997 Harbour Breton Coaster 21 Aug. 8/4 Osprey plunging feet first into the ocean, grasping clawfulls of fish before ascending back into the sky.
2003 New Scientist 30 Aug. 16/3 If you plummeted feet-first into a black hole, your feet would experience a stronger pull than your head.
(ii) With reference to leaving or being carried out: as a corpse, dead. Cf. feet foremost at Phrases 1g(a).
ΚΠ
1844 G. T. Bigelow & G. Bemis Rep. Trial A. Rogers, Jr. 110 He told me..that he should not live twenty-four hours;..and that he should not go out till he went feet first.
1869 All Year Round 13 Sept. 371 They brought my father home feet first.
1949 P. Larkin Let. 30 Oct. in Sel. Lett. (1992) 156 The subsequent consequences keep them busy in an endless chain till they're carried out feet first.
1988 J. Frame Carpathians vi. 41 It will do me until they carry me out feet first.
2006 N. Ephron I feel Bad about my Neck (2008) 71 Every so often an ambulance pulled into the courtyard and..took a tenant away feet first.
P2. With reference to standing or being upright.Compare similar (now less common) phrases at leg n.
a. on (also upon) one's feet. Cf. on (also †upon) one's legs at leg n. Phrases 1b.
(a) Into a standing position; upright. Also on to one's feet, (frequently) to one's feet. Also: in a standing position.
ΘΚΠ
the world > health and disease > be in state of health [verb (intransitive)] > be in good health
on one's feetOE
the world > action or operation > prosperity > cause to prosper or flourish [verb (transitive)] > put (a person) in prosperous condition
on one's feetOE
to set upa1616
to set (a person) on (also upon) his (also her, etc.) legs1632
the mind > will > free will > act of own free will [verb (intransitive)] > be self-reliant
on one's feetOE
the mind > mental capacity > understanding > reason, faculty of reasoning > common sense > be sensible [phrase]
on one's feetOE
an old head on (also upon) young shoulders1591
to know enough to come in out of the rain1599
to have the (good) sense to (do something)1620
to have a (good, wise, etc.) head on (also upon) one's shoulders1659
to know enough to come (or go) in when it rains1797
to come (also get) down to brass tacks (or nails)1897
the mind > attention and judgement > judgement or decision > evaluation, estimation, appraisal > estimate [phrase] > by its merits
on one's feetOE
OE Ælfric Catholic Homilies: 2nd Ser. (Cambr. Gg.3.28) xi. 99 Benedictus hine het arisan, ac he ne dorste ætforan ðam halgan were on his fotum gestandan.
1483 W. Caxton tr. J. de Voragine Golden Legende f. clxxxxii/1 Anone the chyld aroos rizt vpon his feet.
a1492 W. Caxton tr. Vitas Patrum (1495) ii. f. ccxviiv/1 Anone he rose vpon his fete ayen & neuerthelesse he wolde not ete but sette hymselfe to praye god.
a1500 (a1450) Generides (Trin. Cambr.) l. 44 (MED) Vppe vppon his fete he was a non.
1535 Bible (Coverdale) 1 Moses xxix A Then Iacob gat him vp vpon his fete; and wente in to the east countre, & loked aboute him.
1579 T. North tr. Plutarch Liues 991 Then the Romanes sodainely rose vpon their feete, and with the darts that they threwe from them, they slue the formost, and put the rest to flight.
1632 J. Hayward tr. G. F. Biondi Eromena 22 He could not possibly cause him [sc. a horse] to get up on his feet.
1699 A. Boyer Royal Dict. (at cited word) To get On ones Feet, Se lever.
1717 N. Griffith The Leek: a Poem 23 He backward reel'd. Yet soon again recov'ring to his Feet, Hasted th' advancing Enemy to meet.
1777 J. Richardson Dict. Persian, Arabic & Eng. I. 242 An indolent, languid woman, rising slowly upon her feet.
1845 M. Pattison in Christian Remembrancer Jan. 84 The bishops..hastened to raise the king to his feet.
1877 M. T. Walworth Warwick xxxiii. 307 Montrose Earle sprang to his feet and drew a revolver.
a1933 J. A. Thomson Biol. for Everyman (1934) I. xi. 217 It can bite with its forceps, and chew with its jaws.., and yet it cannot get on to its feet.
1945 Times 9 May 4/2 Mr. Churchill entered, and members leapt to their feet to cheer him.
1988 J. Trollope Choir v. 78 Alexander sat through the meeting, rose to his feet only once to make an eloquent but not wholly relevant speech.
2013 W. Sutcliffe Wall 273 In an instant, she's up on her feet, shouting something.
(b) In good health; esp. well enough to be up and about following illness or injury; no longer bedridden. Frequently in to be (back) on one's feet.
ΚΠ
c1500 Melusine (1895) 156 Make here byfore me the feste as that I were now on my feet.
1658 W. Sheppard Sincerity & Hypocricy 166 It will make him that is sincere more carefull and active for God whiles he is on his feet, and when he falls it will help to recover him.
1729 ‘C. Fell’ Lives of Saints II. 64 Our Saint had a violent Fit of the Gout, which threw him into a high Fever... As soon as he was on his Feet again, he was eager to be gone.
1790 A. Wilson Poems 87 I'm now stively on my feet, An' hale an' weel as ever.
1855 Juvenile Missionary Mag. July 153 By the blessing of God, in a fortnight he was upon his feet again.
1881 E. Davies Story Earnest Life v. 163 My two new made friends were delighted to see me on my feet again.
1991 R. R. McCammon Boy's Life ii. iv. 134 Even when Johnny was back on his feet, he was not to do any running or roughhousing and he couldn't even ride his bike.
2014 Sunday Tel. (Nexis) 12 Oct. 30 (heading) Ayatollah back on his feet after surgery.
(c) So as to find oneself in a favourable or advantageous position, esp. by good fortune. Chiefly in to fall on (also upon) one's feet at fall v. Phrases 1e, to land on one's feet at land v. Additions e, to light on one's feet at light v.1 Phrases 2.
ΚΠ
1574 A. Golding tr. J. Calvin Serm. on Job c. 471/1 When all is done, we cannot fall but vpon our feete [Fr. nous ne pouvons tomber que sur nos piez] as they say. For all the troubles of this worlde shall not let God from leading vs too the saluation which he hath promised vs.
1644 R. Vines Posture Davids Spirit 23 Such a man shall be alwayes in possession of himselfe,..and how ever he be tossed too and fro, up and downe, yet shall alwayes light upon his feet.
1718 L. Echard Hist. Eng. (new ed.) II. ii. 113 King James us'd to compare him [sc. Sir Edward Coke] to a Cat, that whatever hapned, wou'd always light upon her Feet.
1721 J. Kelly Compl. Coll. Scotish Prov. 79 Cast you o'er the House riggen, and you'll fall on your Feet. Spoken when one has a better Fortune than either they expected, or deserved.
1821 J. Scott Sketches French Provinces, Switzerland, & Italy ii. 20 A Frenchman..may fall, but he always falls on his feet.
1852 Phonetic Jrnl. 17 Jan. 17/1 Like the cats, they [sc. Anglo-Saxons] always drop on their feet.
1896 A. Beardsley Let. c26 June (1970) 138 I have fallen on my feet here. Two palatial rooms and the additional comfort of being able to feed in a pretty little restaurantish dining-room.
1914 S. Lewis Our Mr. Wrenn i. 44 ‘How are you going to travel on ten dollars?’ ‘Oh, work m' way. Cinch. Always land on my feet.’
1986 G. Butler Coffin on Water i. 19 ‘Hope she's all right...’ ‘Oh, she'll fall on her feet,’ said Coffin; he knew a survivor when he saw one.
2004 Opera News June 35/2 Stamford seems a city with nine lives, prone to cycles of urban blight yet somehow always landing on its feet.
(d) In or into a good or better position, esp. one from which further progress may be made; in or into a secure or independent position, esp. financially. Frequently in to get (or set) (a person or thing) on his (her, etc.) feet.
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1594 R. Cecil Let. May in F. Bacon Wks. (1819) VI. 13 I protest I suffer with you in mind, that you are thus gravelled; but time will founder all your competitors, and set you on your feet.
1628 J. Fletcher Hist. Perfect-Cursed-Blessed Man To Rdr. sig. D2 Much more did Hee now consult with Himselfe, how, and by what meanes Hee might set Man on his feet againe, and so restore Him and his whole Race into their former state and happy being.
1733 H. Fielding Miser (Edinb. ed.) i. vi. 30 I beg you would give me this little Assistance; Sir;..it will set me on my Feet, and I shall be eternally obliged to you.
1801 ‘Gabrielli’ Mysterious Husband iv. 146 A sixth [hundred pounds] would set her once more upon her feet.
1873 J. Assu Brazilian Colonization 124 Did not Cochrane, Earl of Dundonald, set her [sc. Brazil] on her feet, establish her independence, deliver her from tutorship, drive off her enemies?
1916 H. Mearns Richard Richard xx. 350 We're going to pay off the debts, liquidate the mortgage, and set the Wells family on its feet—bail 'em out, in short.
1993 T. Hawkins Pepper x. 212 Don't you think you might fare better if I gave you a little money to get yourself back on your feet.
2010 Private Eye 28 May 30/2 Vince Cable tries to get industry back on its feet.
(e) to stand on (also upon) one's own (two) feet and variants: to rely on one's own resources; to be or become self-reliant or independent; (also) to be judged on one's merits.
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society > authority > lack of subjection > freedom or liberty > independence > be independent [verb (intransitive)] > be self-sufficient
to suffice to oneselfc1475
to shift for oneselfa1513
to work out (one's own) salvation1535
reside1610
to stand on (also upon) one's own (two) feet1621
to stand on (also upon) one's own (two) legs1623
shirk1843
to fish for oneself1867
to live on one's hump1909
1621 S. Ward Life of Faith x. 74 Thou standest vpon thine owne feete, and therefore fallest so foulely, thou wilt like a childe goe alone..and therefore gettest so many knocks.
1641 G. Hakewill Diss. with Dr. Heylyn vii. 42 Neither in truth do I see how the crutch of Transubstantiation being taken away, a Sacrifice properly so called, can well stand upon its own feete.
1657 T. Burton Diary (1828) II. 67 I move..that you would leave Serjeant Dendy's right to stand upon its own foot.
1776 G. Campbell Philos. of Rhetoric I. ii. ii. 401 The phrase thus frequently mistaken, hath come at length to establish itself, and to stand on its own foot.
1794 N. Perkins Disc. Ordination Rev. C. Chapin 37 Religion is a voluntary thing—still you must ‘walk on your own feet:’ you must work out your own salvation.
1858 W. M. Thackeray in Harper's Mag. Dec. 122/1 The great mass of the American people are a sober-minded race, standing firmly on their own good foot.
1871 Radical Nov. 318 He has from his youth stood on his own feet, and he stands now on his own feet.
1971 Daily Tel. 20 Jan. 11 Families that have been ‘propped up’ by social workers for 10 years are now being taught to stand on their own feet.
1990 Vanity Fair Aug. 176/3 The north node of the moon has been transiting Aquarius, telling you that you have to stand bravely on your own two feet.
2011 Independent 17 Oct. 14/3 Ministers remain wedded to the idea that railways should stand on their own feet.
(f) to think on one's feet: see think v.2 9c.
b. off one's feet. Cf. off one's legs at leg n. Phrases 1a.
(a) So as to be no longer standing; so as to be knocked down or thrown off balance; (also) off the ground; into the air. Also in figurative contexts.
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1488 (c1478) Hary Actis & Deidis Schir William Wallace (Adv.) (1968–9) i. l. 404 Wallas with it [sc. the poutstaff] fast on the cheik him tuk Wyth so gud will quhill of his feit he schuk.
a1670 J. Scot Staggering State Scots Statesmen (1754) 38 Walking in his own hall, a dog cast him off his feet and lamed his leg.
1747 Trial A. Stewart Esq. 165 The Deponent was carried off his Feet by the Crowd.
1790 J. Bruce Trav. Source Nile IV. vii. 423 A violent whirlwind..whirled me off my feet, and threw me down upon my face.
1832 F. Marryat Newton Forster I. xviii. 266 The waves nearly lifted him off his feet.
1893 Missionary Herald (Boston) Dec. 526 The converts from preacherless villages are swept off their feet by the tide of persecution.
1911 J. London in Cosmopolitan Nov. 828/1 Smoke saw the baron..hurled clean off his feet into the snow.
1942 Boys' Life Feb. 20/3 His fist shot out and caught Larry flush on the jaw knocking him off his feet.
2008 D. Koomson Goodnight, Beautiful 2010 100 He was back in front of me, grabbing me into a bear hug, lifting me off my feet and then putting me down again.
(b) In or into a sitting or lying position in order to rest, in later use esp. following illness or injury; unable to stand or walk following illness or injury.
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1637 R. Monro Exped. Scots Regim. ii. 38 I was so busied, that the whole night I went never off my feete, but from one part to another.
1749 W. Ellis Compl. Syst. Improvem. Sheep ii. 14 The Shepherd and his Dog must sometimes rest themselves from being off their Feet, which..is very refreshing to their Bodies.
1847 Columbian Mag. May 223/1 ‘Have you been very busy to-day?’ ‘I've not been off my feet since I left home.’
1899 Homœopathic News Feb. 53/1 Found him so much relieved that it was with the greatest difficulty that I kept him off his feet.
1914 Atlantic Reporter 90 992/1 I sprained my ankle... I was off my feet for eight weeks.
1987 R. E. Thompson in H. Mandell & H. Spiro When Doctors Get Sick (1988) xxxvii. 336 The radiologist..suggested that I should get off my feet and be taken back to the meeting room in a wheelchair.
2008 S. Miller Paralympian vii. 109 I broke my toe..early in 1998. That took me off my feet for a few weeks.
†(c) Into an uncontrolled or unstable state of mind or behaviour. Obsolete.
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1647 S. Rutherford Christ Dying 227 This drawing is by wiles, to steale a man off his feet.
1658 J. Durham Comm. Bk. Revelation 387 Often there is more fear and hazard to the Elect their Spirituall estate by Error, than there is by persecutions;..and moe are taken off their feet by the one than by the other, because it cometh under some pretext of Holinesse and Piety.
1677 J. Brown Christ the Way xii. 221 A spirit of error is gone abroad, and many are carried off their feet therewith.
a1756 J. Bisset Disc. Several Important Subj. (1763) 63 Stand fast in the Lord; suffer not yourselves to be seduced and taken off your feet by any crafty pretence whatsomever.
1783 Scots Mag. Jan. 9/2 Step by step we are led off our feet.
(d) So as to be overworked or harassed to a point of exhaustion; into a state of extreme tiredness. Cf. to run (a person) off his (also her) feet (or legs) at run v. Phrases 3b(a), to rush (a person) off his (also her) feet (or legs) at rush v.2 Phrases 5.
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1713 Causes Decay Presbytery Scotl. 14 It [sc. the form of service of the Church of England] will..over-run your Nation in a short time, and the Episcopal Party..will run you off your Feet.
1753 Consultation 36 We..are so run off our feet..that we are, one and all, resolved to hire with the country farmers.
1833 Blackwood's Mag. Feb. 194/1 I'm tired off my feet.
1859 A. H. Drury Misrepresentation II. ix. 153 I have no idea of having Emma worked off her feet with nursing everybody.
1877 A. De Fonblanque Bad Luck I. xi. 242 Milliners, dressmakers, jewellers, claim her by day, and she is danced off her feet at night.
1916 Mich. Alumnus Dec. 161/2 Pennsylvania rushed Michigan off her feet in the first five minutes of the big home game.
1973 Princeton Alumni Weekly 13 Feb. 18/1 Don worked out a game plan to beat Overton running him off his feet early in the race.
2006 J. Ford Don't worry, be Happy xxxvi. 488 The hotel staff, running around with trays of food and drinks, were worked off their feet.
(e) So as to be overcome or carried away with passion, infatuation, or enthusiasm. Now esp. in to sweep (a person) off his feet at sweep v. 6c.
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1800 in R. Burns Wks. 234 A Scottish lady..declared..that no man's conversation ever carried her so completely off her feet as that of Burns.
1832 M. R. Mitford Our Village V. 156 How strange it is, that the mildest and most reflective woman should be so often carried off her feet by the giddiest wild-goose of a man!
1918 H. R. Abbott Merry Heart xv. 147 Surely Mildred was too sensible to be whirled off her feet by a house-party affair.
1922 M. O'Dea Red Bud Women 110 I want you to practice on Ethelyn. Rush her off her feet. Marry her at once.
2011 Manch. Evening News (Nexis) 24 June 3 Their debut album swept critics off their feet.
c. With keep.
(a) to keep one's feet: to stand or walk upright or without falling; to maintain one's footing or balance. Also figurative. Cf. to keep one's legs at leg n. Phrases 3h.
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the world > movement > progressive motion > walking > walk, tread, or step [verb (intransitive)] > without stumbling or falling
to keep one's feet1579
the world > space > relative position > posture > action of standing up or rising > rise or be standing [verb (intransitive)] > be standing > without falling
to keep one's feet1579
to keep one's legs1639
1579 T. North tr. Plutarch Liues 755 He could hardly keepe his feete, bicause the earth was very slippery vnder him.
1679 J. Patrick Cent. Psalms xciv. 97 When I despair'd to keep my feet, Thy mercy me upheld.
1748 S. Richardson Clarissa III. i. 5 I trembled so, that I should hardly have kept my feet, had he not supported me.
1756 M. Calderwood Lett. & Jrnls. (1884) ii. 50 Then down I must go, and into bed as soon as possible, very very squeamish. I could not keep my feet in the cabin.
1838 Sailor's Mag. May 370 It was impossible, at times, to keep our feet, without holding on the fixtures of the vessel.
1849 T. B. Macaulay Hist. Eng. I. 301 He could not keep his feet in a breeze.
1944 F. O'Connor Crab Apple Jelly 144 Carmody punched him viciously about the head, but Sam pulled him this way and that till he could scarcely keep his feet.
1997 N. Warr Phase Line Green ix. 106 I tripped on something and nearly fell on my face, but..I kept my feet and continued running.
(b) to keep (also have) one's feet on the ground and variants: to be realistic or practical; to be down to earth.
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1910 C. T. Winchester Group Eng. Essayists Early Nineteenth Cent. 65 The poetry..seemed to him deficient in genuine human interest. Hazlitt always liked to keep his feet on the ground.
1927 I. Gershwin Typical Self-made Amer. in Compl. Lyrics (1993) 91/3 In a modest way, I feel I am basically sound—With my shoulder to the wheel And my two feet on the ground!
1950 ‘P. Woodruff’ Island of Chamba i. 21 El Hadramauti..is a bit of a theorist and H.M. for all his oddity has his feet very firmly on the ground.
2013 New Yorker 2 Sept. 23/2 I don't think people are looking for an orator. I think they want someone who's got common sense, who's got his feet on the ground.
d. to die on one's feet.
(a) To keep going or remain active until the end; (also) to die fighting. Also to die on one's feet rather than live on one's knees: to be willing to die or make sacrifices rather than surrender, compromise, or submit to something unacceptable.
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1685 P. Rycaut Continuation 205 in tr. Platina Lives Popes During the time of this indisposition, he omitted nothing of his business, and ate and drank of such Meats, and Liquors, as are usual for Men of the best health; having often in his Mouth the saying of Flavius Vespatian the Emperor, That a Prince ought to die on his feet, and in action, signifying that a Prince ought to die in the work of his Vocation.
1865 M. L. Booth tr. H. Martin Hist. France II. v. 326 The health of this prince was completely ruined, and it was only by force of moral energy that he sustained his part, decided, like Richelieu, to die on his feet, the reins of Europe in his hands.
1880 W. H. G. Kingston In Forest xii. 379 Our wisest mode of proceeding will be to stand up and face them boldly. It will be better to die on our feet, than to be speared like skulking foxes.
1924 Survey 1 May 148/2 Rebels of the South, it is more honorable to die on your feet than to live on your knees.
1986 Globe & Mail (Canada) (Nexis) 24 Dec. d7 A tough, tireless saintly woman who has no life but her work, ever fuelling her desire to die on her feet, caring for the world's most destitute.
2013 Austral. Financial Rev. (Nexis) 23 Mar. 17 In a strong, principled act of defiance, these MPs have said they would rather die on their feet with Julia Gillard than live on their knees under Rudd.
(b) To falter or collapse conspicuously, esp. after a prolonged decline; to fail publicly or humiliatingly. Cf. to die on one's arse at arse n. and int. Phrases 13
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1908 ‘Stewart’ Silence xxiii. 344 The Louisiana Lottery..was convicted as a simon pure gambling institution and driven from this country, fleeing to Honduras, where it died on its feet last year in a vain endeavor to resurrect its fallen power.
1929 Film Fun Apr. 1 (advt.) ‘Watch him make a fool of himself,’ I overheard someone whisper, ‘He's so bashful he's afraid of his own voice.’ ‘He'll die on his feet!’ came another whisper.
1949 Manch. Guardian 11 Nov. 8/3 When the mining industry was nationalised it was dying on its feet.
1993 Daily Star 17 Sept. 22/2 The quickfire, gag-a-second show the critics said would die on its feet before the first punchline actually ran for 14 years.
2008 Northern Echo 4 Aug. 30 Many villages all across the North are dying on their feet.
e. Originally U.S. dead on one's feet: extremely tired; faltering or unsuccessful.
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1840 Spirit of Times 14 Nov. 438/3 Buck-Eye I didn't see afterwards—he appeared ‘dead on his feet’ before starting.
1876 Portsmouth (Ohio) Times 30 Dec. Trade was dead on its feet, and sleighs were about the only vehicles of locomotion that made much headway.
1898 J. A. Altsheler Herald of West xxii. 246 Some of the Baltimore militia had come sixteen miles without a rest and were dead on their feet.
1936 Detective Fiction Weekly 19 Sept. 69/1 At five in the afternoon of the third day, dead on my feet, I strolled into the City Hall press room.
1983 C. Lynch You can't print That! iii. vii. 189 With one twitch of her finely sculptured nose, she detected that the party was dead on its feet.
2015 ‘N. Cutter’ Deep 176 ‘You're dead on your feet, Luke,’ Al told him. ‘You need to get some sleep.’
f. to find one's feet, to recover one's feet, to regain one's feet: see the verbs.
P3. With reference to walking or running.
a. on foot.
(a) On one's feet, walking or running, as opposed to travelling on horseback or in a vehicle. Also † of foot, upon foot. Cf. afoot adv. 1.In early use typically with on and dative plural.
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society > travel > aspects of travel > going on foot > on foot [phrase]
on footOE
on footback1589
OE Ælfric Lives of Saints (Julius) (1900) II. 390 Ne þearft þu yrnan on fotum ac mid geleafan gan þæt þu God oncnawe.
?a1160 Anglo-Saxon Chron. (Laud) (Peterborough contin.) anno 1140 & scæ fleh & iæde on fote to Walingford.
c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Calig.) (1963) l. 253 Al þes londes folc an horsen & an foten [c1300 Otho a fote] forð heo ifusten.
c1330 (?c1300) Guy of Warwick (Auch.) l. 2397 When Gij seye þe douke of fot.
a1350 in G. L. Brook Harley Lyrics (1968) 62 Þe is bettere on fote gon þen wycked hors to ryde.
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 6267 He folud wit ost on hors and fote.
c1540 (?a1400) Gest Historiale Destr. Troy (2002) f. 7v So faire freikes vppon fote was ferly to se.
1569 R. Grafton Chron. II. 238 The Englishmen..made three battayles on foote.
1607 E. Topsell Hist. Foure-footed Beastes 135 Some on horsback, other on foot follow the cry..neither fearing thornes, woods, downe-hils.
1695 T. Brown Let. 20 June in J. Wilmot Lett. (1697) 157 Industrious Harlots, who had been earning a Penny over Night, tripping it on foot to their Lodgings.
1704 C. Darby Psalms lxvi. 97 We passed through the flood on foot, And there we sung his praise.
1796 J. Morse Amer. Universal Geogr. (new ed.) II. 479 The Tartars are inured to horsemanship from their infancy: they seldom appear on foot.
1860 C. Dickens Uncommerc. Traveller in All Year Round 25 Feb. 419/1 I drove up..(fearful of being late, or I should have come on foot).
1884 B. M. Croker Pretty Miss Neville xlii. 379 We were four carriages away from the scene, and the road was now quite jammed with horses, and people on foot running past excitedly.
1927 J. Buchan Witch Wood xv. 253 He was on foot and beyond Reiverslaw..when he was overtaken by a horseman.
1980 A. Tyler Morgan's Passing (1983) ii. ii. 39 His hardware store was deep in the city, too far to travel on foot, and unfortunately his car was spread all over the floor of his garage.
2004 Global May 46/1 In Stockholm the easiest way to get around is on foot or by using the excellent bus service.
(b) In motion, astir, on the move. In early use also in † to go on foot: to be alive and active. Cf. afoot adv. 2. Now somewhat rare (chiefly Hunting in later use).
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > [adverb] > in motion
aboutc1325
on footc1400
afoot1786
astir1856
c1400 (?c1380) Cleanness (1920) l. 432 Þer ever flote, oþer flwe, oþer on fote ȝede.
c1400 (?c1390) Sir Gawain & Green Knight (1940) l. 2363 (MED) Þe fautlest freke þat euer on fote ȝede.
c1440 (a1400) Sir Eglamour (Thornton) (1965) l. 264 (MED) I sall ȝow gyffe twa gud grewhundis..Þer es no beste on erthe þat ranne On fote þay will hym to.
a1450 (c1410) H. Lovelich Hist. Holy Grail xxi. l. 218 (MED) The fairest womman that of feet myht gon.
1518 H. Watson tr. Hystorye Olyuer of Castylle li. sig. Lviiv The wylde bore came that was on fote, and trauersed afore hym.
1579 T. Twyne tr. Petrarch Phisicke against Fortune xix. f. 24 To what ende serueth that vnprofitable cost..to bryng so great a troupe into one court, but only to boast thy selfe among thy neyghbours, and as it were thy selfe beyng on foote, to make a voluptuous triumphe of thy banquettes?
1594 W. Shakespeare Venus & Adonis (new ed.) sig. Eiij When thou hast on foote the purblind hare, Marke..How he outruns the wind.
a1616 W. Shakespeare Coriolanus (1623) iv. iii. 43 The Centurions, and their charges..to be on foot at an houres warning. View more context for this quotation
1674 N. Cox Gentleman's Recreation i. 47 When the Hare is started and on foot.
1780 J. Burgoyne Lord of Manor 6 The war is begun, The foe is on foot.
a1818 M. G. Lewis Jrnl. W. India Proprietor (1834) 161 Every body in Jamaica is on foot by six in the morning.
1885 T. Roosevelt Hunting Trips 280 Though I got very close up to my game, they were on foot before I saw them.
1914 Game Breeder Feb. 141/1 I took the dog with me, and we soon had more hares on foot.
1975 Chron. Horse 21 Nov. 11/1 There were two, or maybe three foxes on foot in Thompson's Hill.
(c) In active existence, employment, or operation; in or into preparation or progress.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > in operation [phrase]
aworka1398
at work1549
in action1584
on foot1586
in motion1598
in operation1878
1586 W. Fulke Apol. Declam. Frarine 38, in Treat. against Def. of Censure Bks. W. Charke & M. Hanmer The tumult of Amboyse, neuer allowed at Geneua..nor heard of vntill it was on foote and suppressed.
1598 W. Shakespeare Love's Labour's Lost v. ii. 739 Since Loues argument was first on foote, Let not the cloude of Sorrow iustle it. View more context for this quotation
1605 F. Bacon Of Aduancem. Learning ii. sig. Bb4v If an vntruth..bee once on foote..it is neuer called downe.
1651 W. G. tr. J. Cowell Inst. Lawes Eng. 190 Unlesse the lease which is on foot..be within three yeares of expiring.
1711 R. Steele Spectator No. 262. ⁋6 Those Gentlemen who set on Foot the Royal Society.
1791 T. Jefferson Let. 17 Apr. in Papers (1982) XX. 236 New schemes are on foot for bringing more paper to market.
1844 Ld. Brougham Brit. Constit. viii. 114 If then a King were to retain the troops on foot without a Mutiny Bill.
1867 A. Trollope Last Chron. Barset II. xlvii. 26 The bishop had decided to put on foot another investigation.
1909 Electric. Rev. 5 June 1059/1 In Holland there is a project on foot for an electric tramway between the communes of Arnhem and Renkum-Osterbeek.
1932 P. Bentley Inheritance ii. iii. 200 He instantly set on foot arrangements for the cleaning of the whole mill, for the re-engaging of the men, and for the lighting of the boiler fires.
2014 Retford Times (Nexis) 4 Sept. 28 The force to be known as the Retford Civilian Force, has now been set on foot with the approval of the Mayor of Retford.
(d) Of cattle: alive, before being slaughtered for meat. Only in beef on foot. Cf. beef n. 3.
ΚΠ
1823 Louisville (Kentucky) Public Advertiser 3 Dec. Beef—On foot 3 1-2 cents per lb.
1895 Ulster Jrnl. Archæol. 1 227 Revictualled the Castle for 6 months, with beeves on foot, biscuit, cheese, salt, and some malt.
1927 A. Adams Ranch on Beaver xi. 152 Those sale sheets show that beef on foot is advancing.
1997 M. R. Blaine Some Things are not Forgotten i. v. 87 After talking a little while, he offered each one a beef on foot.
b. on one's (own) feet (or †foot): by walking; on foot (see Phrases 3a(a)). Cf. on (also upon) one's feet at Phrases 2a.
ΚΠ
eOE tr. Bede Eccl. Hist. (Tanner) iii. vii. 180 Heo..mid þæm monnum, þe heo þider læddon, on hire fotum hal & gesund ham hwearf & eode.
OE Ælfric Lives of Saints (Julius) (1881) I. 158 Ne wurde ðu hider geferod on þinum agenum fotum, ac ðe feredon oþre.
a1450 (a1400) Athelston (1951) l. 408 (MED) He took hys hors and forþ he rod..Þe messanger on his ffoot alsoo.
a1513 W. Dunbar Poems (1998) I. 171 Oft Falsatt rydis with a rowtt, Quhone Treuthe gois on his fute about.
1539 Bible (Great) Judges iv. f. xiv/2 Howbeit Sisara fledde away on his feete to the tente of Jael the wyfe of Haber the Kenite.
1579 T. Twyne tr. Petrarch Phisicke against Fortune lviii. 233 As many haue doone and styll doo, who vpon the confidence which they haue in a vile, and vnrulie, and transitorie horse, forget to goe on their owne feete.
1637 S. Rutherford Let. (1761) I. lii. 137 I wish he would give me grace to learn to go on my own feet, and to learn to want his comforts, and to give thanks and believe, when the sun is not in my firmament.
1687 A. Shields Hind let Loose 706 Might it not be doubted, whether a mans going upon his oun feet to be execute, had as manifest, and ex natura rei, a tendency..to advance the design of the enemy.
1792 J. Émïn Life & Adventures Joseph Émïn 425 Sir, you have done very wrong in coming on your own feet to the place of execution.
1857 O. W. Le Vert Souvenirs of Trav. II. l. 175 I have ascended Vesuvius..on my own feet, instead of being carried up in a portantina..as women usually are.
1937 Times Lit. Suppl. 7 Aug. 579/1 These are hermits who are said to have gained the power of travelling a hundred miles a day on their own feet.
1984 P. Petzoldt & R. C. Ringholz New Wilderness Handbk. (rev. ed.) viii. 129 The backpacker must travel on his feet, blisters or not.
2011 W. Debuys Great Aridness iv. 107 Predators of all kinds: some that slither, some that fly, some that travel on their feet.
c. to take to one's feet (or †foot): to go on foot as opposed to travelling on horseback or in a vehicle; to begin or continue walking or running. Also occasionally to take to foot. Formerly also with verb betake, and in reflexive construction.
ΘΚΠ
society > travel > aspects of travel > going on foot > go on foot [verb (intransitive)]
treadc897
stepc900
goeOE
gangOE
walka1375
wanderc1380
foota1425
to take to footc1440
awalkc1540
trade1547
beat it on the hoof1570
pad1610
to be (also beat, pad) upon the hoofa1616
trample1624
to pad (also pad upon) the hoof1683
ambulate1724
shank1773
stump it1803
pedestrianize1811
pedestrianate1845
tramp it1862
ankle1916
society > travel > aspects of travel > going on foot > go on foot [verb (intransitive)] > in contrast with 'ride'
to walk on footc1390
to take to one's feet (or foot)1508
to walk afoot1565
walk1631
to hoof it1652
peripateticate1793
foot-slog1897
c1440 (a1400) Sir Eglamour (Thornton) (1965) l. 588 When þat his nobyll stede was dede: To fote he gane hym tane.
1508 W. Kennedy Flyting (Chepman & Myllar) in Poems W. Dunbar (1998) I. 216 Throu Ingland, thef, and tak the to thy fute.
1579 T. Palfreyman Baldwin's Treat. Morall Philos. (new ed.) iv. i. f. 104 The cowardly..Souldiour..betaketh him to his feete and trudgeth away.
1618 S. Latham New & 2nd Bk. Falconrie ii. 4 Hee [sc. a spaniel] is not bound or tied vnto him, but might therefore take to his feete and runne quite from him.
1693 J. Locke Some Thoughts conc. Educ. § 131. 161 Seizing on a naked Sword, [he] made after the Boy, who seeing him coming so armed, betook himself to his Feet, and ran for his Life.
1730 Compl. Coll. State-trials II. (ed. 2) 622/2 Q. But of whom had you a Horse? A. Where I could have none, I took me to my Feet.
1779 F. Burney Let. 15 June in Early Jrnls. & Lett. (1994) III. 307 I took to my Feet & ran away.
1873 J. G. Holland Arthur Bonnicastle i. 19 I should have alighted and taken to my feet.
1881 G. A. Henty Cornet of Horse 38 The man took to his feet and fled.
1903 Rosary Mag. June 576 We abandoned our mules and took to foot.
1947 N.Y. Times 16 Nov. x. 17/6 Here he takes to his feet, following a section of the FB-SK—Fingerboard-Storm King—Trail.
2015 Sunday Tel. (Nexis) 15 June (Life section) 31 We'd urge everyone to leave behind the stresses of sitting in traffic and take to your feet to enjoy the many benefits walking offers.
d. †to show (a person) the feet: to run away or depart from (a person). In quot. in figurative context.
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > going away > go away [verb (intransitive)]
wendeOE
i-wite971
ashakec975
shakeOE
to go awayOE
witea1000
afareOE
agoOE
atwendOE
awayOE
to wend awayOE
awendOE
gangOE
rimeOE
flitc1175
to fare forthc1200
depart?c1225
part?c1225
partc1230
to-partc1275
biwitec1300
atwitea1325
withdrawa1325
to draw awayc1330
passc1330
to turn one's (also the) backc1330
lenda1350
begonec1370
remuea1375
voidc1374
removec1380
to long awaya1382
twinc1386
to pass one's wayc1390
trussc1390
waive1390
to pass out ofa1398
avoida1400
to pass awaya1400
to turn awaya1400
slakec1400
wagc1400
returnc1405
to be gonea1425
muck1429
packc1450
recede1450
roomc1450
to show (a person) the feetc1450
to come offc1475
to take one's licence1475
issue1484
devoidc1485
rebatea1500
walka1500
to go adieua1522
pikea1529
to go one's ways1530
retire?1543
avaunt1549
to make out1558
trudge1562
vade?1570
fly1581
leave1593
wag1594
to get off1595
to go off1600
to put off1600
shog1600
troop1600
to forsake patch1602
exit1607
hence1614
to give offa1616
to take off1657
to move off1692
to cut (also slip) the painter1699
sheera1704
to go about one's business1749
mizzle1772
to move out1792
transit1797–1803
stump it1803
to run away1809
quit1811
to clear off1816
to clear out1816
nash1819
fuff1822
to make (take) tracks (for)1824
mosey1829
slope1830
to tail out1830
to walk one's chalks1835
to take away1838
shove1844
trot1847
fade1848
evacuate1849
shag1851
to get up and get1854
to pull out1855
to cut (the) cable(s)1859
to light out1859
to pick up1872
to sling one's Daniel or hook1873
to sling (also take) one's hook1874
smoke1893
screw1896
shoot1897
voetsak1897
to tootle off1902
to ship out1908
to take a (run-out, walk-out, etc.) powder1909
to push off1918
to bugger off1922
biff1923
to fuck off1929
to hit, split or take the breeze1931
to jack off1931
to piss offa1935
to do a mick1937
to take a walk1937
to head off1941
to take a hike1944
moulder1945
to chuff off1947
to get lost1947
to shoot through1947
skidoo1949
to sod off1950
peel1951
bug1952
split1954
poop1961
mugger1962
frig1965
c1450 (?a1400) Wars Alexander (Ashm.) l. 3246 Quen fortune foundis him fra & him þe fete schewis.
e. With set.
(a) †to set foot forward: to move forward, advance; (also) to quicken one's pace. Frequently in figurative contexts. rare in later use.
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > rate of motion > move at specific rate [verb (intransitive)] > increase speed > in walking or running
to set foot forward1548
to stretch one's legs1653
society > armed hostility > military operations > manoeuvre > [verb (intransitive)] > advance
to set foot forward1548
1548 Hall's Vnion: Henry IV f. xviii He..neuer set fote forward duryng the first. ii. monethes, for the reisyng of the siege.
1563 A. Golding tr. L. Bruni Hist. Warres Imperialles & Gothes To Rdr. sig. b.iii So hard and difficult a matter is it to stoppe a mischief of the course, when it ones hath gotten the reynes in the necke, and hathe set foote forward to runne the race.
1600 P. Holland tr. Livy Rom. Hist. (1609) iii. xxvii. 106 Willing them to set foot forward, to mend their pace and make speed.
1666 J. Bunyan Sighs from Hell (ed. 2) 123 How willingly wilt thou set foot forward towards the Lake of Fire?
1722 J. Williamson Scope & Substance of Marrow of Mod. Divinity i. iii. 84 When Believers are first awakened,..and set Foot forward to go on in the Way of Life, they..would be hired Servants.
1896 J. Douglas Sterrett Power of Thought ii. x. 95 But thought halts not. It sets foot forward on new and ever newer ground, advancing from conquest to conquest.
1905 Theosophical Rev. Mar. 26 Yet he set foot forward boldly, and it seemed to him that leagues of flame raced by him.
†(b) †to set on one's foot: to start to walk, to depart. Obsolete. rare.
ΘΚΠ
society > travel > aspects of travel > departure, leaving, or going away > depart, leave, or go away [verb (intransitive)]
to come awayeOE
wendeOE
i-wite971
ashakec975
shakeOE
to go awayOE
witea1000
afareOE
agoOE
awayOE
dealc1000
goOE
awendOE
rimeOE
to go one's wayOE
flitc1175
depart?c1225
partc1230
to-partc1275
atwitea1325
withdrawa1325
to turn one's (also the) backc1330
lenda1350
begonec1370
remuea1375
removec1380
to long awaya1382
twinc1386
to pass one's wayc1390
trussc1390
to turn awaya1400
returnc1405
to be gonea1425
recede1450
roomc1450
to come offc1475
to take one's licence1475
issue1484
walka1500
to go adieua1522
pikea1529
avaunt1549
trudge1562
vade?1570
discoast1571
leave1593
wag1594
to go off1600
troop1600
hence1614
to set on one's foota1616
to pull up one's stumps1647
quit1811
to clear out1816
slope1830
to walk one's chalks1835
shove1844
to roll out1850
to pull out1855
to light out1859
to take a run-out powder1909
to push off (also along)1923
a1616 W. Shakespeare Julius Caesar (1623) ii. i. 330 Set on your foote, And..I follow you. View more context for this quotation
†f. upon the foot of: ready to start on or begin. Obsolete. rare.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > undertaking > preparation > in preparation [phrase] > in a state of preparation or readiness > ready to start upon
upon the foot ofa1616
a1616 W. Shakespeare Macbeth (1623) ii. iii. 124 Donal. Let's away, Our Teares are not yet brew'd. Mal. Nor our strong Sorrow Vpon the foot of Motion. View more context for this quotation
g. colloquial and regional. to take one's foot in one's hand: to depart; (also) to set out on a journey.
ΘΚΠ
society > travel > [verb (intransitive)] > go on a journey
ferec950
foundOE
sitheOE
to come upOE
comeOE
undernimc1275
to take or make (a, the, or one's) voyage1297
travelc1300
journeyc1330
to take one's waya1375
reisea1387
to fare a waya1400
voyage1477
wayfare1534
peregrinate1593
sojourn1608
to fare a voyage1609
to journey itc1680
to take one's foot in one's hand1755
stroke1823
trek1850
peruse1895
society > travel > aspects of travel > departure, leaving, or going away > depart, leave, or go away [verb (intransitive)] > set out
forthfarec888
foundOE
seta1000
to go forthOE
to fare forthc1200
partc1230
to pass forthc1325
to take (the) gatec1330
to take the wayc1330
to take one's waya1375
puta1382
treunt?a1400
movec1400
depart1490
prepare?1518
to set forth1530
to set forward(s)1530
busklea1535
to make out1558
to take forth1568
to set out1583
sally1590
start1591
to go off1600
to put forth1604
to start outa1626
intend1646
to take the road1720
to take one's foot in one's hand1755
to set off1774
to get off1778
to set away1817
to take out1855
to haul out1866
to hit the trail (less commonly the grit, pike, road, etc.)1873
to hit, split or take the breeze1910
hop1922
1755 T. Smollett tr. M. de Cervantes Don Quixote I. iv. iv. 232 Andrew..made his bows, and as the saying is, took his foot in his hand [Sp. tomo el camino en las manos].
1864 J. H. Burton Cairngorm Mts. 5 The kind of scenes he may alight on if he ‘take his feet in his hands’.
1922 Atlantic Monthly May 601 I tuck my foot in my hand..and went acrost to see 'em.
1991 K. Gibbons Cure for Dreams viii. 63 He just took his foot in his hand and left his wife six months along with twins.
†h. colloquial and slang. to travel by (Mr.) Foot's horse and variants: to walk. Obsolete.
ΚΠ
1823 ‘J. Bee’ Slang 82 Foot's horse, Mr. to travel by—is to walk.
1873 Herald of Heatlh Sept. 104/2 That happy fashion of traveling on Foot's horse.
1883 Harper's Mag. May 946/1 The privilege of taking this trip on ‘foot's horse’.
1904 Notes & Queries 21 May 415/2 Similar phrases are ‘to borrow Mr. Foot's horse’; ‘to go by Walker's 'bus’; ‘to travel by the marrow-bone stage’.
i. to pull foot: see to pull foot at pull v. Phrases 5a.
P4. With reference to stepping.
a. foot by foot: (originally) step by step; keeping step together; side by side; (later also) by small degrees, bit by bit, gradually. Also †foot for foot, †foot with foot.
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > rate of motion > [phrase] > keeping pace with > walking evenly with
foot by footc1450
step for step (with)1785
c1300 St. Thomas Becket (Laud) 1300 in C. Horstmann Early S.-Eng. Legendary (1887) 143 Send with us fot with fot ane legat in-to Engelonde.
c1450 tr. G. Deguileville Pilgrimage Lyfe Manhode (Cambr.) (1869) 205 The olde also foot bi foot comen thider.
1535 W. Stewart tr. H. Boethius Bk. Cron. Scotl. (1858) II. 378 Fit for fit to Forfar all tha fuir.
1538 T. Elyot Dict. Pedatim, where one fote goeth with the other, foote by foote.
1576 A. Fleming tr. G. Macropedius in Panoplie Epist. 363 The Muses..never flit, but followe thee, or rather, goe even hande with thee, and treade foote by foote.
a1599 R. Rollock Lect. Epist. Paul to Colossians (1603) xiv. 148 Thou must be well knit vp and fast ioyned with him; or else thou canst neuer goe on foote for foote with him.
1631 J. Weever Anc. Funerall Monuments 216 Anselme..followed his predecessors steps almost foot by foot.
1693 J. Dalrymple Inst. Law Scotl. (ed. 2) iv. 726 Magistrates use to offer to go with the Messenger foot for foot, if he can show where the person to be taken is.
1701 D. Jones Compl. Hist. Turks II. vi. ii. 250 The Enemy advanced Foot by Foot to the Ravelin of St. Andrea.
1799 J. Adolphus Biogr. Mem. French Revol. II. 222 Their passage was disputed, foot by foot, by the people within, which occasioned a very great carnage.
1855 W. C. Bennett War Songs 1 Foot by foot, and hour by hour, Onward, brave hearts!—forward go!
1894 Pall Mall Mag. 2 866 Inch by inch, foot by foot, Parpon..climbed the rough wall.
1910 G. M. Baillie Reynolds Out of Night ix. 100 The pretty mare..paced cautiously down to the crystal marge and stepped, foot by foot, into the water.
1944 Life 3 July 13/3 Foot by foot the infantry moved up the hill to the west of Mont du Roc.
2005 M. S. Neiberg Fighting Great War iv. 121 The Caucasus region was too big to defend foot by foot.
†b. to go (walk, etc.) with a right foot and variants: to live or proceed in a manner considered morally correct, upright, etc. Obsolete.In allusion to Galatians 2:14 (see quot. 1560).
ΚΠ
1560 Bible (Geneva) Gal. ii. 14 But when I sawe, that they went not the right way [margin. Greke, with a right fote] to the trueth of the Gospel.]
?1570 T. Drant Two Serm. i. sig. E.iiijv Peter went with an vneuen foote to the Gospell: the Pope with a most crooked foote.
1579 L. Tomson tr. J. Calvin Serm. Epist. S. Paule to Timothie & Titus 347/2 Hee that walketh with a straight foote..will not fetch many windlesses to drawne neere to God.
1597 T. Morton Diet of Soule i. §2. 9 in 2 Treat. conc. Regeneration By keeping this rule, a weake Christian shall go on with a straight foote in the way of a Christian life.
1657 F. Johnson Seasonable Treat. for this Age 1 It is a part of our joy and comfort..to behold the truth of the Gospel prevaile with those that are upright of heart, and tread with a right foot in the practise of the same.
1681 T. Delaune & B. Keach Τροπολογία i. 165 Walk with a right foot, viz. according to the rule and measure of the Gospel.
†c. †to put the wrong foot before: to make a mistake or blunder. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > ability > inability > unskilfulness > do something unskilfully [verb (intransitive)] > bungle
bungle1549
to put the wrong foot before1590
bebotch1609
to put one's foot in (also into) it1796
mess1823
boggle1853
to make a muff of oneself1884
duff1890
bobble1908
miscue1941
blow1943
to make a porridge (of)1969
sheg1981
1590 R. Harvey Plaine Percevall sig. B2v Thou putst the wrong foote before.
d. to be good (fast, quick, etc.) on one's feet and variants: to be agile or nimble; to be skilled at moving or placing one’s feet when dancing or playing a sport. Also figurative.
ΚΠ
1823 Sporting Mag. May 107/2 To use a technical term, he is supposed to be particularly ‘good on his feet’.
1862 New Jerusalem Mag. Aug. 96 He is as nimble on his feet as the youngest man could be.
1883 6th Rep. Comm. Devonshire Verbal Provincialisms in Rep. & Trans. Devonshire Assoc. 15 85 A native of Brixham spoke of himself as being ‘lusty on the foot’.
1901 R. Fitzsimmons Physical Culture & Self-Defense vi. 58 A boxer..must learn to be quick—quick on his feet.
1984 InfoWorld 27 Feb. 108/2 When you decide you're going to play in the low end of the marketplace where the dynamics and the time constraints change radically from year to year, you have to be very fast on your feet.
2013 Aberdeen Evening Express (Nexis) 2 May 16 I'm fast on my feet because I was a dancer.
†e. Scottish. to have a good foot on the floor: to dance well. Obsolete. rare.
ΚΠ
1825 J. Jamieson Etymol. Dict. Sc. Lang. Suppl. at Fit To hae a gueed fit on the floor, to dance well.
f.
(a) to get (start, etc.) off on the wrong foot: to make a bad start, esp. in a task or relationship; to start unsuccessfully.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > failure or lack of success > fail or be unsuccessful [verb (intransitive)] > start unsuccessfully
to stumble at (on) the threshold1377
to get (start, etc.) off on the wrong foot1844
1844 Congress. Globe 24 Jan. 187/2 It appeared to him that the Senate was about to step off on the wrong foot when the bill was introduced.
1891 Convent. Rec. (Kentucky Constit. Convent.) 26 Jan. 21/2 I feel so much on this subject..that..I got off on the wrong foot, and am possibly in the wrong key.
1904 W. H. Taft Addr. Chamber of Commerce N.-Y. 16 The American merchants in the Philippines have gotten off on the wrong foot.
1960 H. Innes Doomed Oasis ii. iii. 120 The relationship hadn't been at all easy at first. ‘They started off on the wrong foot, you see.’
1991 M. Balter & R. Katz Nobody's Child xiii. 152 The day of the wedding, I start out on the wrong foot by being almost an hour late.
2003 G. Best Scoring at Half-time (2004) ii. 108 Ron got off on the wrong foot, I fear, when he immediately began to refer to Denis Law as ‘the old man’.
(b) to get (start, etc.) off on the right foot: to make a good start, esp. in a task or relationship; to start successfully.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > prosperity > success > succeed or be a success [verb (intransitive)] > achieve success (of persons) > start successfully
to get (start, etc.) off on the right foot1888
1888 Galveston (Texas) Daily News 15 Dec. 8/2 In selecting the press as the first profession to be looked after Peter shows that he is starting off on the right foot.
1906 Railway Conductor Nov. 874/2 We have got off on the right foot, now let us get down to the school work.
1937 N. Coward Present Indicative vi. xi. 262 To me a round of applause..even though it be conventional rather than spontaneous, almost always sets my performance off on the right foot.
1944 Billboard 17 June 12/2 The Hollywood outfit started out on the right foot.
2002 S. L. Allen In Devil's Garden 200 Negotiations didn't really get off on the right foot.
g. to catch (a person) on the wrong foot.
(a) In tennis and other sports: to cause (an opponent) to be in an unfavourable playing position as regards the foot on which his or her weight is placed, esp. by deceptive play; = wrong-foot v. 1.
ΚΠ
1884 S. C. F. Peile Lawn Tennis ii. 11 How effectually a player is stumped by being caught on the ‘wrong foot’!
1899 Golf Illustr. 24 Nov. 184/1 Once fairly away from the scrimmage, though he almost never ran round his man, he seemed to slip past him at the very moment when..he got him on the wrong foot.
1920 Amer. Lawn Tennis 15 July 216/1 Williams..caught Brugnon on the wrong foot with a couple of lightning drives down the side lines.
1958 Times 18 Dec. 11/4 The least athletically inclined are frequently finding themselves..bowled out, tackled or caught on the wrong foot.
2011 R. Stevens tr. B. U. Gross & W. Schlager Table Tennis 142 Vladimir Samsonov, a champion of anticipation, who can hardly be caught on the wrong foot.
(b) figurative. To disconcert by an unexpected move; to catch unawares, take by surprise; = wrong-foot v. 2.
ΚΠ
1942 R.A.F. Jrnl. 3 Oct. 11 You'd have to get up at crack of dawn to catch me on the wrong foot.
1963 Times 9 Feb. 13/1 The market was caught on the wrong foot, so that a ‘bear squeeze’ developed.
2002 Independent (Nexis) 10 Dec. 2 Press officers were caught on the wrong foot when the story broke last week.
h. to change foot: see to change (one's) foot at change v. Phrases 1e. to miss a (also one's) foot: see to miss a (also one's) foot at miss v.1 11b. to put one's best foot forward: see to put one's best foot forward at best adj., n.1, and adv. Phrases 1c(b)(i).
P5. With reference to placement of the foot or feet.
a. to set (or put) (one's) foot.
(a) With in, on, etc. To walk in or on; to enter, go into.
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > progressive motion > walking > walk, tread, or step [verb (intransitive)]
stepOE
bistepa1250
to set footc1300
treada1400–50
foota1425
trade1547
stride1596
ambulate1598
purmeinea1614
walka1628
conculcate1657
to tread the ground1691
toddle1819
sashay1878
c1300 (?c1225) King Horn (Cambr.) (1901) l. 134 Of schup hi gunne funde & setten fout to grunde.
c1405 (c1390) G. Chaucer Manciple's Tale (Hengwrt) (2003) Prol. l. 38 Hoold cloos thy mouth..The deuel of helle sette his foot ther yn.
?c1450 Life St. Cuthbert (1891) l. 7267 (MED) In þe kirke ȝarde hir fote sho sett.
1490 W. Caxton tr. Foure Sonnes of Aymon (1885) ix. 222 I shall never sette foote there.
1542 N. Udall tr. Erasmus Apophthegmes f. 46 It was a foule shame for a phylosophier to sette his foote into any hous where bawderie wer kepte.
1579 L. Tomson tr. J. Calvin Serm. Epist. S. Paule to Timothie & Titus 251/2 Sins which haue set in foote.
1598 W. Shakespeare Henry IV, Pt. 1 iii. ii. 95 When I from France set foot at Rauenspurgh. View more context for this quotation
a1599 E. Spenser View State Ireland in J. Ware Two Hist. Ireland (1633) 81 In some places of the same they have put foote.
1648 Moderate No. 6 47 The Informer saies, Prince Rupert is with the Prince, but intends not to set foot on English ground.
1680 R. L'Estrange tr. Erasmus 20 Select Colloquies vi. 86 This is the talkingst place that ever I set my foot in.
1738 E. A. Burgis Ann. Church II. 436 He had no sooner put foot in the palace, but the young prince's fever sensibly abated.
1778 London Mag. July 302/2 Not to set foot..on the enemies territories, until every part of a fair resurrender of us shall have been punctually performed.
1838 E. Bulwer-Lytton Leila i. v. 36 Since first thou didst set foot within the city.
1875 T. W. Higginson Young Folks' Hist. U.S. v. 38 Columbus was not the first to set foot on the mainland.
1907 Trans. & Proc. Japan Soc. 8 314 In 1858 there was not a living Englishman who could say that he had ever set foot in Japan.
1943 A. Moorehead Year of Battle i. 22 Few set foot in Egypt without contracting ‘Gyppy Tummy’ which is a mild stomach disorder lasting usually a couple of days.
2014 P. Earle Bubble Wrap Boy xvi. 85 You won't set foot in that skatepark again... D'you understand me?
(b) With out of, out, etc. To walk or go out of; to leave.
ΚΠ
1548 Hall's Vnion: Edward IV f. ccxxxviiv Whom, if you permitte once to set but one foote, out of your power..there is no mortall creature able..to deliuer hym from death.
1578 T. Cooper Thesaurus (new ed.) Pedes de lecto, to put his feete out of.
1602 W. Watson tr. A. Arnauld Le Franc Discours 5 Who grewe to more puritie of speech, ciuilitie of manners, and conformitie of minde to the geneall state and gouernment, then since that time they haue done, neuer setting foote out of theyr seuerall Countries.
1684 J. Bunyan Pilgrim's Progress 2nd Pt. ii. 180 Now they..befooled themselves for setting a Foot out of doors in that Path.
1700 T. Brown et al. tr. P. Scarron Comical Romance ii. xix. 260 in tr. P. Scarron Whole Comical Wks. She was resolv'd next Day to shut her self up in a Nunnery, thence never to set Foot out again as long as she lived.
1719 D. Defoe Farther Adventures Robinson Crusoe 155 I was never to set my Foot off this Island.
1798 W. Marshall Rural Econ. Southern Counties II. 263 They..live chiefly among themselves; seldom making their appearance, even at the capital; and rarely setting a foot off the Island.
1863 C. G. Frances Ambassador's Wife (new ed.) 56 What possible excuse..have we French, for ever setting foot out of our own glorious country?
1892 Lippincott's monthly Mag. Sept. 292 Make a law that Pio Pico can never put foot out of Los Angeles again.
1914 National Geographic Mag. 615/1 They never once set foot off of what came to be Turkish soil.
1999 News of World 26 Sept. 23/3 The elderly..never daring to set foot out of homes that have become prisons.
b.
(a) to have one foot in the (also his, etc.) grave: to be near death through old age or illness.
ΘΚΠ
the world > life > death > [verb (intransitive)] > be dying
to have one foot in the (also his, etc.) grave?1483
to draw on1484
to gasp up the ghost1577
gore1577
to turn one's face to the wall1579
to gasp one's last1603
groan1642
not to be long for this world1665
strugglea1674
to falter forth or out1814
to sprawl one's last1837
?1483 W. Caxton tr. Caton iv. sig. i.j Sayd a wyse Senatour of Rome that yf he had one foote in his graue, yet wold he euer lerne..that alle scyence is goten and acquysyte by contynuacion and longe vse.
1621 R. Burton Anat. Melancholy iii. iii. iv. ii. 701 An old Acheronticke dizard, that hath one foote in his graue.
1690 T. Shadwell Amorous Bigotte iii. 23 A Reverend white-headed, white-bearded old Gentleman with one foot in the grave.
1790 J. Wesley Let. Mar. (1931) VIII. 209 I am a dying man, having already one foot in the grave.
1812 H. L. Stanhope Let. 23 Sept. in I. Bruce Nun of Lebanon (1951) ii. xii. 152 Had I one foot in the grave I cd. command an Army.
1885 J. Payn Luck of Darrells I. xiv. 252 He has twenty thousand a year... And one foot in his grave.
1913 A. S. M. Hutchinson Happy Warrior ii. 141 Got one foot in the grave, that's what I've got.
1954 Life Oct. 42/3 His political opponents have..warned the voters not to elect a man ‘with one foot in the grave’.
2001 Vibe Aug. 110/1 ‘Let's move it people,’ a doctor yells. ‘We've got a lady with one foot in the grave.’
(b) to have one foot in —— and one in —— and variants: to belong to, or have an interest or stake in, two different or opposite specified groups, factions, etc. Cf. to have a foot in both camps at camp n.2 8a.
ΚΠ
1856 W. Jesse tr. J. P. Ferrier Caravan Journeys xxvi. 396 Whoever holds it [sc. Furrah] has one foot in Kandahar and the other in Herat.
1864 Continental Monthly Jan. 54/2 He had one foot in the stirrup, and the other on the soft home-turf.
1868 Circular (Oneida & Wallingford Communities, N.Y.) 27 Apr. 43/3 We have one foot in this world and one in another.
1905 Bible Student & Teacher Jan. 65/1 There can be..no standing with one foot in one camp and one in the other.
1992 Playboy July 170 (margin) L.A. rockers Dramarama have one foot in alternative music and the other in rock.
2012 N.Y. Times 21 May a10/3 Mr. Nikolic indicated that he wanted Serbia to have one foot in the East and one foot in the West.
†c. to set one's foot to (also by): to oppose; to fight or prepare to fight. Cf. foot to foot at Phrases 1f. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
society > society and the community > dissent > fighting > fight with [verb (transitive)]
fightOE
strugglec1386
wrestle1398
cope witha1467
undertake1470
to set one's foot by1536
skirmc1540
make1542
to break blows, words with1589
combata1592
to take up1600
warsle1606
stoush1924
1536 in State Papers Henry VIII (1830) I. 506 No man can or dare set his fote by ours in proving of the contrary.
a1538 W. Holme Fall & Euill Successe Rebellion (1572) sig. C.iiij Like a valiaunt prince he spake these words vrgent: Who dare set his foote to ours the contrary to proue, And said he reckned learned he was what the faith ment.
c1609 S. Hieron Wks. (1624) I. 7 Saint Paul..would not haue feared for profession of Religion, to set his foot to him that was holiest.
1675 J. Blackadder Two Serm. in M. Shields Faithful Contendings (1780) 73 Our blessed Lord shall see the travel of his soul, and be satisfied: and though all his enemies set their feet to it, they shall not be able to hinder it.
1790 Abridgm. Minutes of Evid. Comm. Slave-Trade (House of Commons) No. 3. ii. 43 Setting his foot to the black man's, [he] squared as if to box him, saying, that he would learn him how to fight.
d.
(a) to set one's foot on the neck of and variants: to hold in subjection, to subjugate, to oppress. Cf. neck n.1 Phrases 1a.
ΘΚΠ
society > authority > subjection > subjecting or subjugation > subject [verb (transitive)] > suppress, repress, or put down
nithereOE
adweschOE
overtreadOE
quellOE
to trample or tread under foot (also feet)c1175
adauntc1325
to bear downc1330
oppressc1380
repressc1391
overyoke?a1425
quencha1425
to bear overc1425
supprisec1440
overquell?c1450
farec1460
supprime1490
downbeara1500
stanch1513
undertread1525
downtread1536
suppress1537
to set one's foot on the neck of1557
depress?a1562
overbear1565
surpress1573
trample1583
repose1663
spiflicate1749
sort1815
to trample down1853
to sit on ——1915
to clamp down1924
crack down1940
tamp1959
1557 Earl of Surrey et al. Songes & Sonettes (new ed.) f. 28 And you, with her, of cruelnesse, Did set your foote vpon my neck, Me, and my welfare to oppresse.
a1616 W. Shakespeare Twelfth Night (1623) ii. v. 181 Wilt thou set thy foote o'my necke. View more context for this quotation
1680 G. Hickes Spirit of Popery Pref. 4 Our Covenanting Hildebrandists..would set their feet on the Necks of Christian Princes.
1749 W. Crookshank Hist. Church Scotl. II. xiv. 409 Enemies think they have got their foot on the neck of the protestant interest now.
1751 Scots Mag. Dec. 555/1 The Jews..may then hope..to be thereby enabled to put their foot upon the necks of the people who have always been..their declared enemies.
1839 W. J. Neale Flying Dutchman I. i. 4 Haughty fools! I will live to put my foot on their necks yet.
1847 Ld. Tennyson Princess vi. 128 See, your foot is on our necks, We vanquish'd.
1937 L. O'Flaherty Famine vi. 52 Who is a greater robber than the Catholic gombeen man as soon as he gets his foot on the neck of his own flesh and blood?
1998 in C. E. Jones Black Panther Party (Reconsidered) vi. 149 Many of them [white people] had the same foot on their neck as we had on ours.
†(b) to set (or put) one's foot upon: to suppress, quash. Cf. to put one's foot down ( Phrases 5g(a)). Obsolete.
ΚΠ
1868 J. H. Blunt Reformation Church of Eng. I. 65 Wolsey set his foot upon this plan.
1889 A. N. Homer Red Ruin vi. 112 George Melville had promptly put his foot upon the idea.
1892 Synoptic Rep. Proc. House of Assembly New Brunswick 91/1 He felt that now was the time to put our foot upon this scheme.
e. colloquial. to put one's foot in (also into) it: to get into difficulties or trouble; to make a mistake or blunder; to say or do something tactless or embarrassing. Cf. to put one's foot in one's mouth at Phrases 5j(a).
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > ability > inability > unskilfulness > do something unskilfully [verb (intransitive)] > bungle
bungle1549
to put the wrong foot before1590
bebotch1609
to put one's foot in (also into) it1796
mess1823
boggle1853
to make a muff of oneself1884
duff1890
bobble1908
miscue1941
blow1943
to make a porridge (of)1969
sheg1981
1796 G. Brewer Bannian Day ii. ii. 23 To be sure I an't now a little at a loss to know whether I've made a good hand of this, or whether I've put my foot in it.
1798 Gentleman's Mag. Nov. 936/2 The General had put his foot into it again.
1834 F. Marryat Peter Simple I. xii. 167 I put my foot into it, (as we say,) for I was nearly killed.
1861 Punch 30 Nov. 215/2 If a fellow has really put his foot in it in an ungentlemanly manner, the Committee can hint to him to be scarce.
1919 Rotarian Mar. 129/1 Every time I opened my mouth I put my foot into it.
1986 O. Clark Diary 27 Dec. (1998) 209 I really put my foot in it by sending a glass of wine crashing over her precious stash.
2014 North Devon Jrnl. (Nexis) 27 Feb. 2 He..has been a master of faux pas (the act of putting your foot in it, in layman's terms) throughout his life.
f. to get a foot on the ladder and variants: to complete the first in a series of ascending stages by which one may progress, esp. with reference to starting a career or buying one's first house.
ΚΠ
1895 Colonies & India 7 Dec. 10/2 There are several applicants thoroughly qualified who are anxious to get a foot on the ladder for a colonial career.
1967 Observer 15 Oct. (Careers section) 16/5 Local [career] prospects are poor... It is necessary to go south to ‘get a foot on the ladder’ and widen one's experience.
1998 Express 9 Apr. 42/1 Without the kickstart of winning a modelling contest, getting a foot on the ladder can be hard work.
2015 Courier Mail (Brisbane) (Nexis) 4 Oct. 89 It has helped the relative few who have bought houses since the scheme started, but it has made it harder for those who still do not have a foot on the ladder.
g. to put one's foot down.
(a) To adopt a firm, unchangeable position or attitude, esp. when faced with opposition. Also with on, upon: to adopt such a position or attitude against; cf. to put one's foot upon at Phrases 5d(b). Also to set one's foot down.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > will > decision > resolution or determination > be resolute or determined [verb (intransitive)] > make a firm stand
to make (a) stand1591
to put one's foot down1833
to stand up to one's lick-logs1834
the mind > language > statement > refusal > [verb (transitive)] > reject
awarpc1000
forwerpeOE
warpc1000
nillOE
warnc1300
reprovec1350
to put abacka1382
to throw awaya1382
repugnc1384
to put awaya1387
waivec1386
forshoota1400
disavowc1400
defyc1405
disprovec1430
repelc1443
flemea1450
to put backa1500
reject?1504
refutea1513
repulse1533
refel1548
repudiate1548
disallowa1555
project?1567
expel1575
discard1578
overrule1578
forsay1579
check1601
decard1605
dismiss1608
reprobate1609
devow1610
retorta1616
disclaimc1626
noforsootha1644
respuate1657
reluctate1668
negative1778
no-ball1862
basket1867
to set one's foot down1873
not to have any (of it, that, this)1895
to put down1944
eighty-six1959
neg1987
1833 Spirit of Age 10 Oct. He talked and palavered with the President till he finally brought him over, and then the President put his foot down and said the deposites [sic] should be removed whether or no.
1873 McBride's Comic Dialogues 44 I do not often say a thing must be done. I do not often set my foot down.
1902 M. Morton Her Lord & Master xix. 463 Indiana, put your foot down on that idea, once and for all.
1915 W. J. Locke Jaffery viii. 110 You must put your foot down. You mustn't let him do it.
1918 Business Digest 27 Nov. 309/1 His wife puts her foot down upon the proposed move.
1966 N. Marsh Death at Dolphin (1967) vi. 145 Why hadn't he put his foot down?.. He should have thrown his weight about.
2011 A. Gibbons Act of Love (2012) viii. 81 I tried to protest but Dad put his foot down... ‘There's no point going on. We're not going to change our minds.’
(b) To accelerate when driving a motor vehicle by (fully) depressing the accelerator pedal. Also to put one's foot to the floor.
ΚΠ
1935 Boys' Life Mar. 17/3 He lost long seconds and did not get clear of them until he was past the chalk pit, then he put his foot down hard.
1962 J. Braine Life at Top ii. 38 I put my foot down and the Zephyr gathered speed up the slope.
1969 N.Y. Mag 17 Nov. 33/3 Mike the Driver put his foot to the floor... The car shot forward.
2005 H. Mantel Beyond Black vii. 237 Colette puts her foot down; they pass vehicles.
h. to get one's feet under the table and variants: to sit or settle at a table; (chiefly figurative) to make oneself at home; to establish oneself securely and comfortably in a situation.
ΚΠ
1836 Hampshire Advertiser 14 May The council, indeed, would put my feet under the table with them.
1866 London Q. Rev. 25 361 We find him on one day sharing the hospitality of Warren Hastings, and the next he has his feet under the table of Burke.
1921 Amer. Gas Assoc. Monthly Oct. 519/2 Picture employer and employee getting their feet under the table to talk over reduction in injuries.
1987 Financial Times (Nexis) 25 Aug. i. 32 Dr Alan Greenspan has hardly got his feet under the table at the Federal Reserve and he is having to face his first currency crisis.
2010 S. Wombwell Allotment Gardening for Dummies xxiii. 410 These pests can get their feet under the table and be next to impossible to get rid of.
i.
(a) to get one's foot in the door and variants.
(i) To insert one's foot between a door and its frame to prevent the door from being shut, usually so as to gain unwanted access.
ΚΠ
1861 Times 18 May 11/5 His mate..got his foot in the door, and prevented it being closed until a police-constable came up and took the prisoner into charge.
1899 Pearson's Mag. 8 63/1 He..slammed the door in our faces as Mr. Anderson crossed the door-mat; but Tenterden's foot was in the door.
1914 Printers' Ink 5 Feb. 26/1 Some men get around the difficulty by putting a foot in the door in true book-agent style. This method..is likely to antagonize the prospect.
1970 M. R. Naiman in S. Terkel Hard Times (2005) 408 The head bailiff shoved his foot in the door and yanked out his pistol.
2001 M. Blackman Naughts & Crosses (2005) xvi. 76 Sarah tried to shut the door in my face. I stuck my foot in the door.
(ii) To gain an initial opportunity from which further progress may be made; to have or gain an initial introduction to a profession, organization, etc.
ΚΠ
1934 New Engl. Q. 7 5 The new astronomy..had a foot in the door at Oxford as early as 1619.
1939 Ironwood (Mich.) Daily Globe 19 June 11/4 To get his foot in the door, John Lewis agreed to raise no objection.
1999 C. Dolan Ascension Day (2000) viii. 198 Morag wasn't bothered where she worked, what kind of hospital or in what post. Once she had a foot in the door, she'd work her way up.
2010 C. M. Mackey Sistergirl Devotions viii. 33 She took the job just to get her foot in the door to a career in journalism.
(b)
foot in the door adj. (attributive) designating a method of gaining an initial opportunity or introduction to something (cf. to get one's foot in the door at Phrases 5i(a)); (chiefly Psychology) designating a persuasion technique in which a small request is made with the aim of inducing compliance with a subsequent larger one; of or relating to this technique.
ΚΠ
1928 Bull. Amer. Libr. Assoc. 22 444/1 The illegitimate practices in selling known to the trade as ‘the foot in the door’, or ‘free gift’ method of selling.
1966 Jrnl. Personality & Social Psychol. 4 195 (title) Compliance without pressure: the foot-in-the-door technique.
2011 S. Davidson in L. Whitmarsh et al. Engaging Public with Climate Change 197 The foot in the door approach assumes that by simply motivating a small change..a larger one may later happen.
(c) a foot in the door: an initial opportunity or introduction to something.
ΚΠ
1940 M. L. Cooke & P. Murray Organized Labor & Production xv. 186 The union visualized the agreement as a ‘foot in the door’, giving it an opportunity to secure sufficient strength.
1988 New Statesman 17 June 14 This unofficial industry provides a foot in the door for black British business talent.
2014 P. Earle Bubble Wrap Boy ii. 7 It didn't take me long to get over it; it was a foot in the door, after all. A stepping stone.
j. colloquial (originally North American).
(a) to put one's foot in one's mouth and variants: to say something tactless or embarrassing. Cf. to put one's foot in (also into) it at Phrases 5e.
ΚΠ
1879 Waterloo (Iowa) Courier 12 Feb. 6/5 He is bound to put his foot in his mouth whenever he opens it.
1902 Atlanta Constit. 16 July 6/3 General Bragg has gone and done it again! His happy faculty of putting his foot in his mouth whenever he opens it hangs to him like a toper's appetite.
1991 Mirabella May 112/2 To the despair of his media spinmasters and five-star gurus, including Kissinger and Nixon, he had only to wander a wee bit away from his prepared script and..there he was again with his foot in his mouth.
2002 Village Voice (N.Y.) 22 Jan. 10/3 My whole art is the art of clumsiness, of cosmic left-handedness..Sticking your foot in your mouth so many times that you get athlete's foot between your teeth.
(b) foot-in-mouth: used in various phrases relating to saying something tactless or embarrassing.Frequently in foot-in-mouth disease: the habit or condition of saying something tactless or embarrassing (used with punning allusion to foot and mouth disease n. at Compounds 3).
ΚΠ
1887 Syracuse (N.Y.) Standard 10 Dec. 2/3 The message revealed a bad case of foot in mouth disease.
1952 Life 15 Sept. 134/2 The reluctantly departing national chairman..tossed off the foot-in-mouth observation that ‘there can be only one general in a presidential campaign’.
1982 R. Sheppard & M. Valpy National Deal vii. 139 Hays, the crusty, wise-cracking..cattle auctioneer..was saved from repeated attacks of foot-in-mouth disease by his co-chairman's deft use of the gavel.
1992 Village Voice (N.Y.) 7 Apr. 8/3 Clinton's spin-anesthetists now have their candidate trying to slough off every criticism of his foot-in-mouth falsehoods and his conflicts of interest by blaming it all on ‘the tabloids’.
2013 Radio Times 7 Dec. (South/West ed.) 51/1 Steve Coogan could never be accused of rushing into a big screen transfer for his endearingly foot-in-mouth broadcaster, who debuted in 1991.
k. to put a foot wrong: to make a mistake. Chiefly in negative constructions, as not (or never) to put a foot wrong: to make no mistakes. Also not to put a foot right: to make many mistakes.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > prosperity > success > succeed or be a success [verb (intransitive)] > make no mistakes
not (or never) to put a foot wrong1939
1915 Weekly Irish Times 20 Nov. 2/4 We neither of us seemed able to put a foot right.
1939 A. G. Macdonell Flight from Lady iv. 37 Look at our own Marlborough. Not once did he put a foot wrong in the whole of his long and intricate campaigns.
1948 ‘N. Shute’ No Highway iv. 108 His superiors could rest content that Mr. Symes would never put a foot wrong.
1961 H. Nicolson Let. 1 June (1968) III. 395 The Americans..blame..the ‘diplomatists’, meaning thereby their intelligence services. ‘Why can't we put a foot right?’ they wail.
1999 Vanity Fair Oct. 120/1 It's a fairly short story, but it seems longer..because the female character just cannot put a foot right.
2012 Canberra Times (Nexis) 12 Nov. a4 The royal couple never put a foot wrong in the style stakes.
l. to put one's feet up: see to put one's feet up at put v. Phrases 14.
P6. In proverbs and proverbial sayings. Esp. in a ganging foot is aye getting and variants: an industrious or adventurous person will get by or make a living. Now somewhat rare.
ΚΠ
a1425 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Galba) l. 28939 Gangand fote ay getes fode.
1555 R. Eden tr. Peter Martyr of Angleria Decades of Newe Worlde i. vi. f. 32 Because they seeme contrarye to thoppinions of all the Astronomers, I wyll touche them but with a drye foote as sayth the prouerbe.
a1633 G. Herbert Outlandish Prov. (1640) sig. C2v All feete tread not in one shoe.
1670 Sc. Prov. in J. Ray Coll. Eng. Prov. 262 A walking foot is ay getting.
1721 J. Kelly Compl. Coll. Scotish Prov. 11 A going Foot is ay getting, if it were but a Thorn.
1832 Athenæum 1 Dec. 775/3 Nor is the tale..to be passed over, as some of our old writers say, with a dry foot.
1870 Harper's Mag. June 98/1 ‘The ganging foot is aye getting,’ rejoined Adolphus. ‘I'm sick of hanging around home. A fellow with an adventurous turn of mind can't stand it.’
1908 C. D. Mackellar Pleasure Pilgrim in S. Amer. 115 I..stepped gingerly, as I thought of the old Scottish proverb, ‘A ganging foot is aye getting’, and what in God's name might I not be getting there.
1940 Scotsman 24 Aug. 9/5 The Scots in Poland travelled indeed to the theme of ‘ganging feet are aye getting’.
P7. Phrases referring to a person's foot as an object.
†a. figurative. to catch (also have, take) by (also with) the foot: to catch as in a trap; to hold tightly or securely. Obsolete.
ΚΠ
c1425 Serm. (BL Add.) in G. Cigman Lollard Serm. (1989) 18 Ȝet at þe last God wole haue his lawe knowen and þeues taken wiþ þe feet.
1519 W. Horman Vulgaria xviii. f. 167v The baudy thrummys of the carpettis toke me faste by the feete.
1550 H. Latimer Serm. Stamford sig. A.iiiv In answeryng to this they woulde haue caught him by the fote.
1622 J. Mabbe tr. M. Alemán Rogue ii. 167 To take the Cat by the foote, and therewith to rake the coales out of the Ouen.
1643 W. Prynne Soveraigne Power Parl. i. 52 The English Armies disband themselves, as dreaming they had now good fortune by the foote.
b. to find (know, etc.) the length (also measure) of a person's foot and variants: to discover or know a person's character or weaknesses, esp. so as to be able to manage or influence him or her. Now rare.
ΘΚΠ
society > authority > control > be in control [verb (intransitive)] > have in one's control
to find (know, etc.) the length (also measure) of a person's foot1580
to have the ball at one's foot (feet) (also before one)?c1625
to pull (also move) the wires1834
the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > knowledge, what is known > experience > be experienced [phrase]
to know the ginc1530
to know what something is1535
to find (know, etc.) the length (also measure) of a person's foot1580
to know one's way around1814
to be more than seven1896
to know whereof one speaks (or writes, etc.)1922
the mind > attention and judgement > judgement or decision > evaluation, estimation, appraisal > estimate [phrase] > with oneself as standard
to find (know, etc.) the length (also measure) of a person's foot1580
1580 E. Knight Triall of Truth f .11 Hauing founde the length of his foote, hee shalbe fitted with an Instrument of proofe.
1580 J. Lyly Euphues & his Eng. (new ed.) f. 34v You shall not knowe the length of my foote, vntill by your cunning you get commendation.
a1617 P. Baynes Comm. Ephes. (1643) (i. 15) 156 Persons who can humour them, and finde the length of their foote.
1648 in J. Raymond Making News (1993) viii. 344 The Jesuits and Priests about her had taken the just length of her Foot (as we say) and of the King's too.
1727 tr. A. de Castillo Solórzano Spanish Amusements iii. 219 He has a Servant to wait on him, who knows the length of his Foot, and complies with him in his Madness.
1728 Mem. Eng. Officer 250 I too well knew the length of his Foot, to let my Money run freely.
1850 M. T. Vidal Cabramatta & Woodleigh Farm 194 He told his mother that Blake ‘knew the length of her foot very well’.
1857 A. Trollope Barchester Towers III. i. 16 Farmer Greenacre's eldest son..had from his earliest years taken the exact measure of Miss Thorne's foot.
1925 S. Weyman Queen's Folly (1927) 275 He's hard to drive but easy to lead. And if anyone has the length of his foot, it's her ladyship.
1940 N. Lofts Hester Roon x. 115 Sam would help if he were asked properly and Hester considered that she had, in the country phrase, ‘got the measure of his foot.’
†c. to measure another person's foot by one's (own) last: to measure others by one's own standard, to judge others against oneself. Obsolete.
ΚΠ
1590 Tarltons Newes out of Purgatorie 22 He was honestly minded towards hir, and kept himselfe to the wife of his bosome, so measured hir foote after his owne last.
1598 R. Bernard tr. Terence Andria iv. i, in Terence in Eng. 70 He measures an other mans foote by his owne last.
a1669 F. Howgill Dawnings of Gospel-day (1676) 630 Thou hast lost thy force, success, and Pay..which makest thee measure every Man's Foot by thy Last, and thou might receive information before thou hadst made a Conclusion.
1726 R. Houstoun Hist. Ruptures iii. 103 To act as such Coblers do, who measure all Mens Feet by one Last.
d. to give (a person) the (or †a) foot: to trip up (a person); to kick (a person). Now rare.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > possession > taking > seizing > catching or capture > catch or capture [verb (transitive)]
i-lecchec1000
fang1016
hentOE
takeOE
alatchlOE
catchc1275
wina1300
to take ina1387
attain1393
geta1400
overhent?a1400
restay?a1400
seizea1400
tachec1400
arrest1481
carrya1500
collara1535
snap1568
overgo1581
surprise1592
nibble1608
incaptivate1611
nicka1640
cop1704
chop1726
nail1735
to give a person the foot1767
capture1796
hooka1800
sniba1801
net1803
nib1819
prehend1831
corral1860
rope1877
the world > movement > progressive motion > walking > walk upon or tread [verb (transitive)] > stumble over something > cause to stumble
stumblec1330
supplantc1350
tripc1425
to give a person the foot1767
chip1788
the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > downward motion > causing to come or go down > cause to come or go down [verb (transitive)] > cause to stumble and fall
stumblec1330
supplantc1350
tripc1425
to give a person the foot1767
leg1835
1767 H. Brooke Fool of Quality V. 15 Harry, giving him a slight foot, laid him on the broad of his back.
1853 J. Ryder Four Years Service in India xiii. 126 The corporal gave him the foot and threw him upon the floor.
1918 J. Allen Making of Canad. ix. 96 I gave him the foot, and he went sprawling onto the sawdust.
e. euphemistic. to make feet for children's stockings and variants: to produce offspring; (also) to have sexual intercourse. Somewhat rare.
ΚΠ
1772 Warbler 131 Toasts and Sentiments... Girls fresh, clean, kind, and willing... The art of making feet for children's stockings [etc.].
1811 Lexicon Balatronicum at Feet To make feet for children's stockings; to beget children.
1970 Harper's Mag. Sept. 75/1 Anybody who sleeps all the night in some hayfield with a fish-fag woman is out there primarily to..make feet for children's stockings.
1980 Maledicta 4 197 We would all agree that the best place to make feet for childrens' shoes is on the device for manufacturing motors for tricycles.., though we would all agree that the most comfortable place for that action that is likely to result in pregnancy is on the bed.
f. to get one's feet wet: to begin to participate in an activity; to gain initial experience.
ΚΠ
1924 N.Y. Times 25 Sept. 22/4 If he should be foolish enough to jump in and get his feet wet, in this county, at least, he won't carry a voting precinct.
1932 Pittsburgh Courier 23 Jan. 3/4 Dorothy..was just getting her feet wet in the theatrical world by doing part-time work in ‘Porgy’.
1950 Changing Times July 23/1 This is a way to get your feet wet in the business without plunging in too far at the outset.
1993 S. Kuriscak Casino Talk 27 Get Your Feet Wet. An invitation to a spectator to get into the game.
2011 Daily Tel. 27 July 20/1 There was this excitement around the concept of the internet. I just wanted to get my feet wet working for an internet company.
g. Originally U.S. to hold a person's feet to the fire and variants: to put pressure on a person or organization in order to obtain a desired result.Frequently in political contexts.
ΚΠ
1906 Brinkley (Arkansas) Argus 2 Mar. 2/1 The railroads will come across with the goods when they see our business men get together. Appoint a real live, strong Union Station Committe [sic] to hold their feet to the fire a while.
1955 Washington Post 10 Apr. e6/1 Smith quotes an anonymous political expert as declaring: ‘Wait till they put his feet to the fire.’
1992 A. Gore Earth in Balance xv. 344 They are still falling far short of their responsibility. As a result, several of us in the Senate have begun looking for ways to hold their feet to the fire.
2014 Times (Nexis) 31 Mar. 24 Ministers should ‘hold the BBC's feet to the fire’ to ensure that cost-cutting does not affect the World Service, MPs say.
h. to cool one's feet: see cool v.1 Phrases 4. to dig in one's feet: see to dig in 3 at dig v. Phrasal verbs. to drag one's feet: see drag v. 1b. to feel one's feet: see feel v. Phrases 3. to shoot oneself in the foot: see shoot v. Additions.
P8. With reference to pace or speed.
†a. to hold (also keep) foot with: to maintain the same speed of walking or running as; to keep up with (literal and figurative). Cf. to keep (also †hold) pace at pace n.1 Phrases 1a. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > rate of motion > [phrase] > at a walking pace
to hold (also keep) foot withc1438
at (also in) (a) foot pace1538
hay-foot, straw-foot1898
the world > movement > rate of motion > slowness > move or go slowly [verb (intransitive)]
creepc1175
lugc1400
to hold (also keep) foot withc1438
crawlc1460
lounge?a1513
slug1565
drawl1566
draggle1577
fodge1581
snail1582
laggerc1620
slagger1622
snail1628
flod1674
delay1690
to drag one’s slow length along1711
soss1711
loiter1728
trail1744
sidle1781
soodle1821
linger1826
ooze1847
slope1851
laggard1864
dawdle1872
tiddle1882
oozle1958
pootle1973
the world > action or operation > manner of action > effort or exertion > exert oneself or make an effort [verb (intransitive)] > do one's utmost
to do (also lay) one's mightc1175
to do, make one's wisec1290
to do (also make) one's powerc1390
to hold (also keep) foot withc1438
to do one's force?c1450
to do or die1487
to do one's endeavour(sc1500
to do the best of one's power1523
to do (also try) one's best1585
to do one's possible1792
to pull out all the stops1927
to bust (also break) one's balls1968
the world > movement > rate of motion > swiftness > going swiftly on foot > at a swift pace on foot [phrase] > at one's best pace
to hold (also keep) foot withc1438
c1438 Bk. Margery Kempe (1940) ii. 239 (MED) Þe sayd creatur cam sone behyndyn; sche was to agyd & to weyke to holdyn foot wyth hem.
1529 T. More Dyaloge Dyuers Maters i. xv. f. xixv/2 He [sc. a horse] could scant kepe fote with vs.
1599 T. Morton Treat. Nature of God vi. 238 My litle weak nag wil not hold out, and I am sure, that hee cannot hold foote with your strong gelding.
1658 J. Carstairs in J. Durham Comm. Bk. Revelation To Rdr. sig. A2 His expression and pen..could very hardly and but seldom hold foot with him.
b. at (a) foot's pace: at walking pace. Cf. foot pace n. 1. Now somewhat rare.
ΚΠ
1784 M. Berry Jrnl. 4 July (1865) I. 133 We could only go at a foot's-pace, and were unexpectedly detained by a great fall of rock.
1798 G. H. Rose tr. Instr. Hussars & Light Cavalry 8 The scouts..must remain quiet on the top of the hill, and then go down it at a foot's pace.
a1818 M. G. Lewis Jrnl. W. India Proprietor (1834) 362 Thus we proceeded crawling along at a foot's pace.
1867 People's Mag. 9 Feb. 88/1 A single horse..travelled at foot's pace over the jolting road.
1903 E. F. Benson Relentless City x. 135 In the roadway omnibuses and cabs proceeded at foot's-pace.
1985 Mil. Affairs 49 13/2 Infantry could only move at a foot's pace and could not carry their own baggage.
†c. to have the foot of and variants: to run faster than, to be quicker than. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > rate of motion > move at specific rate [verb (transitive)] > gain (ground) upon > catch up or overtake > outstrip
to leave behinda1393
overgoc1425
preventa1500
outgo1530
out-trot1555
outstrip1567
stripa1592
outpacea1596
out-swift1606
to have (also get) the speed ofa1616
outstretcha1642
to give (a person or thing) the go-by1642
to gain bounds of1653
outrace1657
outspeed1661
to cast behind1681
distance1691
belag1721
repass1728
outfoot1740
outdistance1789
fore-reach1803
to have the foot of1832
to run away1843
slip1856
short-head1863
tine1871
forespeed1872
outrate1873
1832 J. P. Kennedy Swallow Barn I. 248 The fox..got the foot of them [sc. dogs] so far, that she found she could get back to her nest before they could come up.
1856 C. J. Lever Martins of Cro' Martin 133 I threw out a ‘tenpenny’ in the midst. The ‘blind’ fellow saw it first, but the ‘lame cripple’ had the foot of him, and got the money!
1902 Times 22 Oct. 3/2 Bridge of Canny had the foot of him all the way.
1905 Westm. Gaz. 3 June 8/3 Karakoul was seen to have the foot on his opponent, and in a bumping finish..the non-favourite won very comfortably by a length and a half.
†d. to run a good foot and variants: (of a horse) to run fast or at a good pace. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
the world > animals > mammals > group Ungulata (hoofed) > family Equidae (general equines) > horse defined by speed or gait > [verb (intransitive)] > move swiftly > run at best pace
to run a good foot1740
1740 H. Bracken Farriery Improv'd (ed. 2) II. vi. 123 A large, nimble, strong, well-moving Horse, that would run a pretty good Foot.
1786 R. Burns Poems 149 And then he'll hilch, and stilt, and jimp, And rin an unco fit.
†e. (with) the better foot before: at one's best pace, quickly. Obsolete.
ΚΠ
1565 A. Golding tr. Ovid Fyrst Fower Bks. Metamorphosis i. f. 8v But as his loue aduysed hym hee gan too mende his pace, And with the better foote before the flyinge Nymph too chace.
1594 W. Shakespeare Titus Andronicus ii. iii. 192 Come on my Lords the better foot before . View more context for this quotation
1622 J. Mabbe tr. M. Alemán Rogue ii. i. 92 We got vp betimes in the morning, and that we might the sooner get into Florence, we did set the best foot before, and made a little more haste.
1851 Waltheof v. ii. 52 Nor veer nor right nor left, but place thine eye Upon yon hill, thy better foot before.
P9.
†a. In oaths and asseverations, chiefly with direct or euphemistic reference to the feet of Christ, as Christ's foot!, etc. Cf. God's foot int. at god n. and int. Phrases 3b(a), od's foot int. at od n.1 and int. Compounds 1, 'Sfoot int. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > language > malediction > oaths > [interjection] > religious oaths (referring to God) > referring to Jesus
for Christ's sake (or sakes)eOE
in (also a, o', on) Christ's nameeOE
by Christ's, or His, woundsc1350
Christ's foot!c1450
by Gis1528
Jesus Christ1602
Christ1748
Christ almighty1810
jabbers1821
for Chrissakes1845
Jeez1896
jeepers1929
sweet Jesus1932
Jeezum1959
c1450 (c1390) G. Chaucer Miller's Tale (Texas) f. 43 Ey cristis fote [c1405 Hengwrt Cristes foo] what will ye do therwyth?
c1460 in R. Brotanek Mittelengl. Dichtungen MS 432 Trin. Coll. Dublin (1940) 99 (MED) For goddes fote! holde, for þis is thre.
1609 B. Jonson Case is Alterd ii. sig. D3v A fellow..will be as deepe myr'd in censuring as the best, and sweare by Gods foote he would neuer stirre his foote to see a hundred such as that is. View more context for this quotation
1616 B. Jonson Every Man in his Humor (rev. ed.) ii. ii. in Wks. I. 21 Speake to him? away, by the foot [1601 life] of Pharaoh, you shall not, you shall not doe him that grace.
1668 J. Dryden Sr Martin Mar-all v. 61 Ods foot, Sir, there are some Bastards..that are as well worthy to marry her, as any man.
b. colloquial. my foot! (occasionally also your foot!), following the thing being contradicted. Used as an exclamation to express disbelief or (contemptuous) contradiction.
ΚΠ
1921 R. Thompson Comrades of Desert xvi. 128 ‘Rain! Your foot!’ said Sam, scornfully. ‘Don't you know the smell of greasewood yet?’
1945 L. A. G. Strong Othello's Occupation 72 Cooperation my foot. You're trying to trap me into admitting a motive for doing the old girl in.
1961 H. E. Bates Day of Tortoise 55 ‘But it's a serious matter for you.’ ‘Serious my foot. Why should I worry?’
2005 J. Martyn Ringfort to Runway i. iii. 36 Apologies my foot..why isn't he here himself, then..‘tendering his apologies’, indeed.
P10. With reference to measurement.
†a. every foot (and anon): on every occasion, frequently; (also) every now and then. Obsolete (regional in later use).
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > continuing > continually (in action) [phrase]
night and dayeOE
day and nightOE
without(en) blina1300
morning, noon, and nightc1325
but stintc1330
by and byc1330
early and latec1330
without ceasec1330
without ceasinga1340
withouten hoc1374
without releasec1400
still opece1422
in a ranec1480
never ceasable?1518
without remorse1555
every foot (and anon)1561
round1652
year in and year out1819
twenty-four hours a day1914
1561 P. Morwyng tr. Josephus Compend. Hist. Jews 56 b Antipater made feastes euery foote [L. singulis diebus] for thy brother Pheroras and him selfe.
1601 P. Holland tr. Pliny Hist. World II. 243 Such a worke they made sometime in chafing and frying their bodies against a good fire, but euery foot in bringing them abroad into the hot Sunne.
1639 R. Gentilis tr. P. Sarpi Hist. Inquisition 39 The Inquisitors doe every foote write to Rome.
1692 R. L'Estrange Fables cccclviii. 434 This Man's Son would every foot and anon be taking some of his Companions into the Orchard.
1784 J. Cullum Hist. & Antiq. Hawsted in Bibliotheca Topographica Britannica No. 23. 171 Every Foot anon. Every now and then.
1844 Sat. Mag. 31 Aug. 76/2 The common term, ‘every now and then’, is perverted in to ‘every foot anon’.
b. by the foot run: by the foot, as measured in a straight line. Cf. run adj. 13. Also per foot run.
ΚΠ
1740 T. Miles Conc. Pract. Measurer 36 Any Cornice wrought by Hand..must be girt by itself, and valued by the foot run.
1772 Gazetteer & New Daily Advertiser 15 Apr. 2/3 The price per square yard for re-laying the old pavement, and per foot run for re-laying the old kirb.
1847 A. C. Smeaton Builder's Pocket Man. 183 Plasterer's work is in part measured by the yard and foot square, and in part by the foot run.
1887 Daily News 6 July 7/4 The Cheap Wood Company are selling 2 by 4 at ½d. per foot run.
1931 Daily Gleaner (Kingston, Jamaica) 10 Apr. 24/2 These pile cuttings..can be obtained at a nominal price of One Shilling per foot run.
1967 Roofing Farm Buildings (U.S. Dept. Agric., Farmer's Bull. No. 2170) (rev. ed.) 14/1 End lap is 9 inches if the roof slope is 4 inches rise per foot run.
2009 D. Heng Sino-Malay Trade & Diplomacy iv. 124 By the late eleventh century, small spaces in a ship's hull were rented out by the foot run to traders.
†P11. on (or upon) the foot: (of a cereal crop) whole, i.e. before threshing has separated the grain from the stems or stalks. Esp. in to sell on (or upon) the foot. Obsolete.
ΚΠ
1778 A. Wight Present State Husbandry in Scotl. II. iv. 447 Third crop, barley..sold on the foot at L. 9 Sterling per acre.
1780 A. Young Tour Ireland (Dublin ed.) I. 330 The value sold on the foot is in general 8l.
1812 Agric. Surv. Stirling iv. 104 The tenant, shall not sell his victual upon the foot, as it is called, or with the straw.
1874 Irish Times 26 Aug. 8/1 Three acres statute of Best Barley on the foot.

Compounds

C1.
a.
(a) General attributive.
ΚΠ
eOE Bald's Leechbk. (Royal) (1865) ii. xxix. 226 Seo wæte wyrcþ..uneaþlacna adla, þæt is fotwærc, liþwærc, lendenwærc.
OE Ælfric Lives of Saints (Julius) (1900) II. 386 Þa cempan..his sceancan gefæstnodon on þam fotcopsum.
?a1200 ( Recipe (Harl. 6258B) in T. O. Cockayne Leechdoms, Wortcunning, & Starcraft (1864) I. 380 Wið sceancena sarnyssa & fotece, bettonica & geormaleaf.
?c1225 (?a1200) Ancrene Riwle (Cleo. C.vi) (1972) 146 Flesches fondunge mei beon iefned to fotwunde.
c1660 J. Evelyn Diary anno 1644 (1955) II. 259 The Nave..in forme of a Crosse,..whereof the foote part is the longest..at the internodium of the Transum-part, arises the Cupola.
1809 B. Clark tr. Apsyrtus in Series of Exper. on Foot Living Horse 130 It happens that the legs of the horse..from the foot shackles..or its fastenings by the thong or cord, become injured, so that the skin falls down.
1848 J. Craig New Universal Dict. Foot-shackles, fetters, shackles for fixing the feet.
1856 E. K. Kane Arctic Explor. I. xxii. 273 Pointed staves, foot-clampers, and other apparatus for climbing ice.
1878 Med. Press & Circular 31 July 84/1 He left the hospital, with the foot wound nearly healed.
1919 Jrnl. Sci. Physical Training 11 56 There was too much ‘sameness’ about her foot movements; pas-de-basque, pas-de-chat, grand jeté turning, grand fouette turning.
1962 Life 26 Oct. 94/2 Your bones and muscles, joints and connective tissues..break down from time to time and cause..backaches, foot aches and indefinable aches all over.
1976 U.S. News & World Rep. (Nexis) 16 Feb. 74 Wearing ‘one size fits all’ socks or panty hose can cause corns, blisters or even more serious foot problems.
2009 W. Tyrrell & G. Carter Therapeutic Footwear viii. 119/2 Take a full podiatric history, paying particular note to..significant foot conditions or previous foot lesions.
(b)
foot fetter n. [compare Middle Dutch voetveter]
ΚΠ
OE Antwerp-London Gloss. (2011) 55 Compedes, fotfetera.
1787 A. W. Schmidt Deutsche, Italiänische, Englische und Französische Benennung aller Hauptdinge der Welt 141 Les fers aux pieds, the foot-fetters.
1877 Newtonian Oct. 27 The walls [of Dartmoor Prison] are hung with massive iron chains, bracelets, foot fetters, and here and there a ‘thumb screw’ and the like.
1917 A. A. Macdonell Vedic Reader for Students 212 Death is the path of Yama. His foot-fetter (páḍbīśa) is spoken of as parallel to the bond of Varuṇa.
1995 D. A. E. Pelteret Slavery in Early Mediaeval Eng. (2001) 58 Another slave who had been placed in foot fetters..had them miraculously loosed when he prayed at the tomb of the saint.
foot injury n.
ΚΠ
1868 Birmingham Daily Post 8 June 6/5 Thomas Cranshaw, foot injury, likely to involve amputation.
1941 Brit. Med. Jrnl. 18 Oct. 563/1 The practice of amputating just above the ankle for foot injuries is still fairly common.
2007 Daily Monitor (Addis Ababa) 14 Aug. 12/3 Rooney, 21, missed three months after a foot injury in 2004.
foot massage n.
ΚΠ
1899 Sunday Oregonian (Portland, Oregon) 25 June 18/2 I've a list of patients as long as my arm to whom I give foot massage.
1961 Anthropos 56 498 The patient was then made to lie prone, with his legs spread out, to receive a foot massage.
2008 W. Collinge Partners in Healing xiii. 73 Foot massage with massage oil or cream can be an extremely pleasant method of stress reduction and relaxation.
foot muscle n.
ΚΠ
1837 A. Tennant Veg. Materia Medica 65 The nourishing artery of the shin, which gives branches to the ham, front shin, and sole of the foot muscles.
1948 Evolution 2 229/2 It [sc. Caecum glabrum] does not move like other snails with the aid of contractions of the foot muscles.
2012 Post-Standard (Syracuse, N.Y.) 29 May c2/4 Injuries can occur when people transition too fast and put too much pressure on their calf and foot muscles.
foot pain n.
ΚΠ
1862 C. H. Cleaveland Causes & Cure Dis. of Feet 82 Gout is so uniformly located in the feet..that it is often known by the Latin name Podagra, (foot-pain).
1912 Amer. Labor Legislation Rev. 2 218 The occupations which involve long periods of standing also cause various foot-pains.
2004 Rock & Ice Jan. 41/1 The rigid soles..can be a real drag on approaches, causing heel blisters and foot pain.
foot surgery n.
ΚΠ
1857 Daily Cleveland (Ohio) Herald 3 Aug. (advt.) T. H. Dalton..may be consulted in every department of Pedal or Foot Surgery.
1902 Railway Surgeon Jan. 223/1 The writer..has exercised the same conservatism in foot surgery as in that of the hand.
2001 Day (New London, Connecticut) 24 Dec. d1/2 I had a bilateral bunionectomy, which in plain English means foot surgery.
b.
(a) attributive, with the sense ‘performed or done on foot (as opposed to on horseback or by vehicle)’.
ΚΠ
OE Aldhelm Glosses (Digby 146) in A. S. Napier Old Eng. Glosses (1900) 133/1 [Equitatu et] peditatu : fotgangendum here.
a1586 Sir P. Sidney Arcadia (1590) ii. xix. sig. Bb2 So began our foote-fight.
1620 tr. G. Boccaccio Decameron II. vi. i. f. 3 Madam, this foot trauell may bee offensiue to you.
1790 Maid of Kent I. 199 This lady..suborned a porter to watch the motions of the Doctor on his foot excursions.
1845 P. J. Bailey Festus (ed. 2) 79 The fastings, the footwanderings, and the preachings of Christ.
1956 Metrop. Museum Art Bull. 14 213 (caption) The deep skirt was worn in foot combat.
1987 H. Turtledove Misplaced Legion iv. 73 It's on the far side of the Cattle-Crossing, about a month's foot-travel from here.
1997 C. Nicholl Somebody Else xxiii. 236 An evocation of those long foot-journeys to Paris in early 1871.
2002 P. Briggs Ethiopia (Bradt Trav. Guides) (ed. 3) iv. xviii. 327 Any of the crater lakes..can be visited as a short foot excursion.
(b)
† foot-faring adj. and n. Obsolete
ΘΚΠ
society > travel > aspects of travel > going on foot > [adjective] > going on foot
gangingOE
pedestrial1606
pedantical1622
foot-faring1625
pedestrious1646
pedestrianizing1800
pedestrian1829
footback1863
foot-slogging1898
1625 A. Gardyne Characters & Ess. xix. 28 The Figure bot of a foot-faring Post; That carries, not knowing..The Tenor, Contents, their Mynds, or their Wills.
1868 G. MacDonald Robert Falconer I. 190 Half a dozen footfaring students from Aberdeen.
1900 E. Rhys Whistling Maid xvii. 171 Many a time I walked the road between; 'tis a three-days' foot-faring.
1913 A. W. Small Between Eras xiv. 228 The footfaring millions have..been closing up the gap between themselves and the careering few.
† foot-running adj. Obsolete rare
ΚΠ
1865 C. Kingsley Hereward i, in Good Words Jan. 12/2 A foot-running slave.
foot tour n.
ΘΚΠ
society > travel > aspects of travel > going on foot > [noun] > a walk or journey on foot
walkc1405
walking1542
footwalk1599
travel1724
tramp1787
foot tramp1808
foot tour1841
1841 Dublin Univ. Mag. Jan. 556/1 Reader, if you can help it, never make a toil of pleasure, by letting a foot tour end in fatigue.
1914 T. W. Wilby Motor Tour Canada iii. 51 Long-distance foot-tours are usually relegated to tramps of the ‘hobo’ variety.
2007 Runner's World Jan. 84/1 Your foot tour takes you past outdoor cafés..and under overflowing window boxes.
c.
(a) attributive, with the sense ‘that goes on foot (as opposed to travelling on horseback or in a vehicle)'.
ΚΠ
1584 in J. Stuart Extracts Burgh Rec. Aberdeen (1848) II. 54 That no extranear fut chopmane copair resort to this toun fra this furtht.
1688 J. Shirley Triumph of Wit 227 The High-Pad or High-way-man. The Low Pad or Foot Robber.
1696 in MSS House of Lords (1903) (modernized text) II. 230 Each and every foot chapman, pedlar, hawker, or other wandering trading person or persons.
1775 Hibernian Mag. Jan. 21/1 That the said tax be 20s per year on each foot hawker.
1779 H. Arnot Hist. Edinb. iv. iv. 538 The mail began to be conveyed from stage-to-stage..by foot runners.
1811 S. T. Coleridge Let. 30 Nov. in C. C. Southey Life A. Bell (1844) II. 645 The entrance..is disagreeable even to foot-comers.
1847 ‘I. Marvel’ Fresh Gleanings 188 There is no pavement for the foot-goer.
1854 Monthly Christian Spectator Oct. 638 He directed his course northwards, travelling principally at night—so painfully did he shrink from the gaze even of footfarers like himself.
1856 E. K. Kane Arctic Explor. I. xx. 252 The ice had baffled three organized foot-parties.
1922 J. Joyce Ulysses ii. xv. [Circe] 532 Follow the footpeople with knotty sticks.
(b)
foot messenger n.
ΘΚΠ
society > communication > indication > insignia > heraldic devices collective > heraldry > herald > [noun] > foot-messenger or servant
foot servant1668
foot messenger1678
1678 J. Phillips tr. J.-B. Tavernier Indian Trav. xviii. 99 in tr. J.-B. Tavernier Six Voy. He..took the Letters and seal'd them himself; giving some to Foot Messengers[Fr. des gens de pied], others to Horsemen.
1688 R. Holme Acad. Armory iii. 60/1 Foot Messengers of Arms, are such Foot Servants, as are imployed by the Heralds of Arms.
1757 J. H. Grose Voy. E.-Indies x. 192 Betwixt Surat and Bombay there is a constant intercourse preserved..by Pattamars, or foot-messengers, over land.
1888 S. Baring-Gould Eve vi. 36 Barbara sent a foot messenger to Beer Alston.
1915 Missionary Rev. of World Feb. 89/1 To most of the inland towns letters, papers and parcels must still be conveyed by foot messengers.
2013 N.Y. Times (Nexis) 29 July b6 First came years of being a foot messenger in New York City and working in data entry.
foot traveller n.
ΘΚΠ
society > travel > aspects of travel > going on foot > [noun] > one going on foot
foota1225
footmana1382
walkerc1390
footera1425
ganger1424
trampler1580
foot folk1583
marcher1589
leg-stretcher1612
foot traveller1631
pedestrian1641
ambulator1652
foot walker1751
turnpiker1812
foot passenger1832
ped1863
voetganger1902
jaywalker1917
stepper1934
foot-slogger1956
1631 J. Weever Anc. Funerall Monuments 599 He also made a cawsey of timber for foot Trauellers ouer the marshes, from this Towne to Lock-bridge.
1788 W. Cowper Let. 18 Aug. (1982) III. 198 Such a foot-traveller am I.
1850 W. Wordsworth Prelude vi. 152 Foot-travellers side by side..we pursued Our journey.
1904 C. H. Cochrane Mod. Industr. Progress 416 Above the first roadway is a double bicycle-way, with a space for foot-travellers between.
2012 Independent (Nexis) 28 Oct. 76 Granada..is the ultimate paradise for foot travellers.
foot walker n.
ΘΚΠ
society > travel > aspects of travel > going on foot > [noun] > one going on foot
foota1225
footmana1382
walkerc1390
footera1425
ganger1424
trampler1580
foot folk1583
marcher1589
leg-stretcher1612
foot traveller1631
pedestrian1641
ambulator1652
foot walker1751
turnpiker1812
foot passenger1832
ped1863
voetganger1902
jaywalker1917
stepper1934
foot-slogger1956
1751 D. Hume Enq. Princ. Morals iv. 71 (note) Amongst Foot-walkers, the Right-hand entitles a Man to the Wall.
1895 Chautauquan June 314/1 Wanderers from sunset to sunrise, weary foot-walkers without a bed.
2002 Coventry Evening Tel. (Nexis) 10 June 3 There might be only three floats but there are lots of footwalkers, and the procession is quite large.
d. attributive, with the sense ‘used by, or intended for the sole use of, pedestrians’.
foot passage n.
ΘΚΠ
society > travel > means of travel > route or way > way, path, or track > path or place for walking > [noun] > foot(-)path
walking path?a1425
footpatha1450
footwaya1450
foot roada1560
foot passage1614
footstep1620
foot track1672
footwalk1701
foot pavement1743
1614 W. Raleigh Hist. World i. ii. vii. iii. 337 He neuer rested, till hee had made a foote passage from the Continent to the Iland.
1789 J. Brand Hist. & Antiq. Newcastle I. 15 Convenient foot-passages have lately been opened out on each side of this gate.
1892 D. Masson Edinb. Sketches & Memories 11 A multiplicity of narrow foot-passages called closes.
1911 K. H. Brown Uncertain Irene iii. 69 Through the narrow foot-passage we shot, like homing rabbits.
2009 H. G. Hartnett & C. Bryett Over the Top (2011) vi. 29 The duckboard track had been raised to provide a dry foot passage for the men using it.
foot pavement n.
ΘΚΠ
society > travel > means of travel > route or way > way, path, or track > path or place for walking > [noun] > foot(-)path
walking path?a1425
footpatha1450
footwaya1450
foot roada1560
foot passage1614
footstep1620
foot track1672
footwalk1701
foot pavement1743
1743 London Mag. Dec. 609/1 As to those who travel in Vehicles, the Narrowness of those Conveniences is not less obvious and insupportable, than that of the Foot Pavement.
1863 A. W. Kinglake Invasion of Crimea I. xiv. 261 Numbers of spectators..crowded the foot-pavement.
1918 H. Abraham Asphalts & Allied Substances 374 In the United States, asphalt mastic is restricted to the construction of foot pavements and floors.
2014 Canterbury Bankstown (Austral.) Express (Nexis) 6 May 9 The Birrong Town Centre is being upgraded, including the reconstruction of existing..sections of foot pavement.
foot road n. now rare
ΘΚΠ
society > travel > means of travel > route or way > way, path, or track > path or place for walking > [noun] > foot(-)path
walking path?a1425
footpatha1450
footwaya1450
foot roada1560
foot passage1614
footstep1620
foot track1672
footwalk1701
foot pavement1743
a1560 W. Kennedy Passioun of Christ in J. A. W. Bennett Devotional Pieces (1955) 8 Haill, riall king..to sicht rycht lycht in dern; To feit fute rode.
1681 J. Dalrymple Inst. Law Scotl. 345 Having only a Foot-road, or only a way for leading of Loads upon Horse-back.
1784 R. Bage Barham Downs I. 220 [He] saw a well dressed young woman..take the foot road down to the river side.
1869 H. James Let. 28 June (1974) I. 131 A broad foot-road that leads thro' the most enchanting variety of scenes.
1906 Cornhill Mag. Mar. vii. 412 A wicket gave entrance to the park and to a footroad across it.
2014 Evening Gaz. (Nexis) 5 Apr. 11 It was the start of the footroad to Yarm via Bowesfield Lane.
e. attributive, with the sense ‘of, for, or relating to foot soldiers’.
† foot arms n. Obsolete (historical and rare in later use)
ΘΚΠ
society > armed hostility > military equipment > weapon > [noun] > a particular species of weapon > carried by infantry
foot arms1642
1642 To Constables & Overseers (Essex) (single sheet) No person be charged..unlesse he be worth foure hundred pounds in goods, or forty pounds per annum in lands; nor with a Foot-Armes, unlesse he be worth an hundred pounds in goods.
1662 Protests Lords I. 26 For assessing all persons mentioned therein for horse, arms, and foot-arms.
1734 J. Higgs Guide to Justices 112 Requiring all Persons within their several Precincts, who are charg'd to Horse or Foot Arms in the Militia belonging to this County, to cause their Soldiers..personally to appear.
1905 W. H. Ireland Life Sir Henry Vane xiv. 237 6000 foot arms..were sent to refit the discomfited.
foot army n. now historical
ΚΠ
1572 J. Sadler tr. Vegetius Foure Bks. Martiall Policye iii. xxvi. f. 50 He that hath most trust in his foote armyes: let him get ye higher places for the footemen, & accomplishe his enterprise chiefelye by them.
1644 R. Symonds Diary (1859) 49 The foot army lay short of the hill all night.
1722 A. Bruce Sc. Behemoth Dissected 10 The Army, by the General's Order, cut the Throats, in cold Blood, of all that Foot Army.
1854 Manch. Examiner & Times 31 May 4/4 Napoleon..had what might be called a cavalry army, which did its work after the foot army had done.
2001 H. Sides Ghost Soldiers (2002) 92 The Japanese Army was not heavily motorized; it remained, to a great extent, a foot army.
foot band n. now historical
ΘΚΠ
society > armed hostility > armed forces > the Army > branch of army > [noun] > infantry
foot folkc1325
pedaile?a1400
putaylea1425
foot band1517
fanterie1575
foot1578
foot troop1579
infantry1579
tolpatchery1864
PBI1916
1517 in J. B. Paul Accts. Treasurer Scotl. (1903) V. 157 To [a] seriand in the futband.
1598 R. Barret Theorike & Pract. Mod. Warres ii. 26 A Captaine of Infanterie, or foot-band.
1762 T. Mortimer Brit. Plutarch IV. 149 The lord-president suddenly rose, armed..leaving the foot-bands to guard the town.
1847 W. G. Simms Life Chevalier Bayard xxiii. 257 We may remember the ambition of the adventurer, Captain Jacquin Caumont, belonging to these very foot-bands of Molart, to prove to the Duke de Nemours that he merited promotion to the horse.
2001 Jrnl. Mil. Hist. 65 326 Where foot bands retained a quasi-feudal relationship between captains and soldiers, discipline could be established in the tradition manner.
† foot barracks n. Obsolete
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society > armed hostility > military organization > logistics > quartering > [noun] > quarters > barracks > types of
hut1545
serail1585
seraglio1600
horse guardsc1660
caserne1676
foot barracks1705
1705 Rules Quartering Army in Ireland (new ed.) 9 The several Utensils for the Horse and Foot Barracks undernamed..have hitherto been provided by the Direction of the several Chief Governors of this Kingdom.
1835 D. Booth Analyt. Dict. Eng. Lang. 157 Artillery-barracks, Horse-barracks, and Foot-barracks.
1900 Cassell's Gazetteer Great Brit. & Ireland 150/2 The foot barracks can accommodate 1,000 men.
foot company n. historical in later use
ΘΚΠ
society > armed hostility > armed forces > the Army > unit of army > [noun] > regiment > infantry regiment > division of
foot company1586
company1590
field battalion1714
section1863
1586 T. Wilkes Let. 9 Dec. in H. Brugmans Correspondentie van R. Dudley (1931) I. 311 The footecompanies are not reduced all to 200 heades, as was appointed.
1635 W. Barriffe Mil. Discipline lxvii. 174 The severall motions and grounds; for the disciplining of a foot-company.
1736 S.-Carolina Gaz. 28 Feb. 2/2 But the Gentlemen Troopers with their Officers..and the Officers of the Foot Companies were regaled with a handsome Dinner.
1812 S. E. Brydges Collins's Peerage of Eng. VIII. 463 On March 14th, 1660, he was made captain of a foot company, pursuant to privy signet.
1904 K. Asakawa Russo-Japanese Confl. xiii. 232 The ‘frontier guards’..were said to have been made up of fifty-five mounted squadrons, fifty-five foot companies, and six batteries of artillery.
2008 L. E. Modesitt Mage-Guard of Hamor ix. 89 It is unlikely that any of the mages in Merowey could affect more than a squad at a time, a foot company, perhaps, if they were in a tight formation.
foot regiment n. now historical
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1587 B. Rich Path-way Mil. Pract. sig. E.4v A Colonell Generall is a place of great authority, and is to commaunde all other Colonelles of foote regimentes.
1622 F. Markham Five Decades Epist. of Warre v. i. 161 The Colonell of a Foot-Regiment..amongst the old Romans..commanded a Tertio or Regiment.
1759 W. Harte Hist. Life Gustavus Adolphus I. 50 Wrangel directed the third station at the head of his own and Ruthven's foot-regiments, with 700 cavalry.
1870 C. R. Markham Life Ld. Fairfax vii. 61 A foot regiment was..formed in solid square battalions ten deep, called tertias, the pikes in the centre, and the musketeers on either flank.
2015 Nottingham Post (Nexis) 21 May 16 One of the regular foot regiments which drew its manpower from Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire was the 45th Foot.
foot troop n.
ΘΚΠ
society > armed hostility > armed forces > the Army > branch of army > [noun] > infantry
foot folkc1325
pedaile?a1400
putaylea1425
foot band1517
fanterie1575
foot1578
foot troop1579
infantry1579
tolpatchery1864
PBI1916
1579 G. Fenton tr. F. Guicciardini Hist. Guicciardin vii. 372 The French..discouered the foote-troopes of the Genowaies.
1639 R. Ward Animadversions of Warre i. §xii. cxxvi. 317 If your Cavalry are by some accident to fight onely against some certaine foote Troopes of the enemies you must make choise of plaine fieldings.
1761 Gentleman's Mag. Mar. 133 For 1205 horse, 2208 foot troops of Brunswick, together with subsidy..£57, 798 16 0.
1890 J. F. Finerty War-path & Bivouac ix. 112 By noon, most of the foot troops had acquired sufficient mastery over their ‘mounts’ to enable them to keep their saddles.
1998 J. M. Collins Mil. Geogr. for Professionals & Public iii. 41 Small-unit actions by foot troops predominate.
f. attributive, with the sense ‘managed or worked with the foot or feet; operated or driven by means of a foot pedal’.
foot accelerator n.
ΚΠ
1901 Motor-car Jrnl. 14 Dec. 741/2 In addition to the foot accelerator there is a hand regulator enabling the speed of the engine to be diminished at will.
1951 Independent Jrnl. (San Rafael, Calif.) 15 May 6/1 So drunk with the feel of power in the foot accelerator they wouldn't slow down.
2011 I. M. Johnston Tractors, Kalashnikovs & Green Tea ix. 106 We all could follow Bob's course for some time, as it was easily determined by the belch of black smoke each time he stabbed the foot accelerator.
foot bellows n.
ΚΠ
1837 J. G. Wilkinson Manners & Customs Anc. Egyptians III. x. 340 The bellows with sides of wood, made at the present day, are a more perfect construction than..the foot-bellows of the time of Thothmes.
1890 All Year Round 26 June 162/2 The motive power is a stream of air supplied from foot-bellows.
1998 D. A. Butler Unsinkable i. 13 The ‘heater boy’..would work up a fire in a coke brazier, using a foot bellows to keep the heat up.
foot blower n.
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1847 Times 4 June 12/6 (advt.) Genuine Household Furniture, a Finger Organ, with six stops, swell, and foot blower, in mahogany Gothic case.
1889 Eng. Mechanic & World of Sci. 23 Aug. A current of air is maintained..by means of a foot-blower.
1959 Musical Times 100 359/1 (advt.) Two manuals and pedals, electric blower; also hand and foot blowers.
footbrake n.
ΚΠ
1867 Ann. Rep. Commissioner Patents 1866 I. 390 in U.S. Congress. Serial Set (39th Congr., 2nd Sess.: House of Representatives Executive Doc. 109) XVI A foot brake is also used, by which the motion of the driving wheel may be stopped.
1933 Illustr. London News 364/2 A lorry suddenly backed across the open Kingston-Staines road.., so that I had to jump on the foot-brake as hard as possible.
2008 S. Faulks Devil may Care iii. 39 Bond smacked the footbrake, dropped the wheel to his right, then hauled up the handbrake.
foot clutch n.
ΚΠ
1900 Engin. Times May 199/1 There is a foot clutch provided for throwing the carriage entirely out of gear with the engine.
1954 Pop. Mech. July 81/1 There is no foot clutch. To go forward, you merely put the shift lever in Drive and step on the throttle.
2007 Amer. Motorcyclist Aug. 8/1 It's listed as ‘the modern control scheme’, but this does not do justice to the change from the foot clutch to the hand clutch.
foot hammer n.
ΚΠ
1861 Mechanics' Mag. 11 Oct. 253/2 The oliver or foot hammer is now allowed to rise back into a perpendicular position.
1903 Amer. Blacksmith Apr. 124/2 Foot hammers for smith shops.
1989 India Currents 30 Nov. 56 He waited for me..to watch millet being ground by a foot hammer.
foot lathe n.
ΚΠ
1767 ‘Cosmetti’ Polite Arts iii. 25 The present method of engraving is with a foot-lathe, which commands an engine properly constructed to receive tools of all kinds and sizes.
1879 Sci. Amer. Suppl. 25 Jan. 2548/3 To accomplish the same thing in an ordinary foot lathe, a piece of quite thin brass should be bent together in a U form [etc.].
2012 Oxf. Mail (Nexis) 19 May I turn wooden bowls on the treadle lathe, a traditional foot lathe where all the energy is coming from my left leg.
foot lever n.
ΚΠ
1783 J. Aitken Elem. Theory & Pract. Physic & Surg. II. 381 I performed reposition of the arm bone..by the aid of what I call the foot lever, in using which the surgeon needs no assistance.
1853 Ohio Observer (Hudson, Ohio) 20 July A tender..receiving the ticket, presses down a foot-lever, and the stile is moved for one entrance.
1968 Financial Times 27 Sept. 9/2 The type G has an extremely long infeed table, raised and lowered by means of a foot lever.
2005 Hot Bike Mar. 111 Foot levers control a Musselman rearhub brake.
foot pedal n.
ΚΠ
1790 Times 21 May 1/1 Under the Piano Forte, are a small Range of Pipes..which, by a small foot pedal are played.
1882 Cent. Mag. Dec. 316/1 The air needed to move the motor is admitted directly, and..can be controlled by the foot-pedal.
1938 Pop. Sci. Monthly Nov. 89 This ‘legpower helicopter’ employs an airplane-type propeller that is spun by foot pedals.
2005 T. Brookes Guitar 298 His bass player spends several minutes squatting on stage amid tentacular cables and foot pedals trying to fix his silent bass.
foot press n.
ΚΠ
1841 J. Kitto Palestine: Physical Geogr. vii. p. cccxxxii/2 The foot-press was..used in the lower country.
1921 Harper's Mag. July 166/2 The forelady beckoned me..and I took my initial whack at a foot press.
2006 A. Finger Elegy for Dis. 258 The woman in personnel tried to talk us into working the foot press.
foot pump n.
ΚΠ
1858 Times 11 Oct. 8/6 The Chinese have connected their natural watercourses by canals, irrigate their lands by the foot pump, and cut three crops annually.
1911 Lancet 22 July 220/2 A foot-pump and cylinder of oxygen are coupled to a large and stout rubber gas-bag.
2015 N. Brown In Every Way viii. 91 She puts air in the tires with a foot pump.
foot starter n.
ΚΠ
1903 D. F. Graham & F. A. Fox U.S. Patent 725,955 1/1 This invention relates to foot starter mechanisms for engines or the like; and it has special relation to an improved starting mechanism which is designed to be operated by the foot and which is especially applicable in its adaptability of operation to automobile-engines and analogous uses.
1958 Life 5 May 123 (advt.) Step down on the foot starter, and away you go!
2007 Die Cast Fall 40/1 There is a clutch and brake pedal but no accelerator or foot starter.
foot switch n.
ΚΠ
1883 Chester (Pa.) Times 22 Feb. When our chronic office visitor has sat long enough, a foot switch in another part of the room, can throw currents to various parts of the chair..so that the twinges which our friend receives will incline him to the belief that he had better go home.
1963 ALA Bull. 57 791/1 A foot switch automatically activates the machine to print the address.
2003 S. Taylor False Prophet 1 The chord feeds back, swells, and begins to howl as Debra kicks the foot switch that boosts her amplifier for a solo.
foot vice n.
ΚΠ
1893 Iron Age 6 Apr. 811/3 The Sure Grip Adjustable Jaw Foot Vise.
1910 Amer. Blacksmith Dec. 73/2 A Green River foot vise and bolt heade.
2006 C. Kinmonth Irish Rural Interiors in Art iii. 125 (caption) This shows a carpenter..astride his ‘cooper's mare’ (a bench and foot vice combined).
g. Instrumental, with the sense ‘by means of the foot or feet, esp. using a foot pedal’.
† foot-acted adj. Obsolete
ΚΠ
1899 Country Life Illustr. 22 July 91/2 It has a foot-acted rim brake to the driving wheel.
1908 Daily Chron. 21 Nov. 9/4 The three-speed gear in association with a foot-acted brake.
foot braking n.
ΚΠ
1896 C.T.C. Monthly Gaz. Mar. 119/2 Such foot braking can, in an instant, bring a machine to an absolute standstill.
1956 Boys' Life May 31/1 (advt.) Only Chrysler Corporation cars have two separate and independent brake systems—one for foot braking, one for parking.
2012 Psychol. Res. 75 461/2 We move our eyes while at the same time producing manual steering and foot braking responses.
foot-operated adj.
ΚΠ
1886 Official Gaz. (U.S. Patent Office) 23 Feb. 890/1 Two clutches loosely mounted thereon, one connected with a check-rower fork and the other with a foot-operated lever.
1959 Times 2 Oct. 11/3 The foot-operated dip switch.
1967 Jane's Surface Skimmer Syst. 1967–8 9/1 The engine is controlled by a foot-operated accelerator.
2002 Which? Apr. 35/2 The Prius also has..a foot-operated parking brake instead of a handbrake.
h. Locative, with the sense ‘at or in the feet’.
foot-feathered adj.
ΚΠ
1818 J. Keats Endymion iv. 175 Foot-feather'd Mercury.
1894 W. F. Lumley Turbit Pigeon x. 65 Any variety of inferior-bred pigeons, having slender beaks, are suitable for the purpose, heavily foot-feathered specimens always excepted.
1988 M. M. Vriends Pigeons 75/2 The ‘trumpeting’ has been almost completely bred out of the foot-feathered breeds.
† foot-gilt adj. poetic Obsolete
ΚΠ
1859 Ld. Tennyson Vivien in Idylls of King 108 Foot-gilt with all the blossom-dust of those Deep meadows.
1906 A. Noyes in Blackwood's Mag. Apr. 467 Spain was aware of her drawing nigh Foot-gilt from the blossoms of Italy.
foot-lame adj.
ΚΠ
c1330 Simonie (Auch.) (1991) l. 264 Þus [is] knihtshipe acloied and waxen al fot-lame.
a1350 in R. H. Robbins Hist. Poems 14th & 15th Cent. (1959) 13 Sixti þousent on a day hue maden fot-lome.
1861 G. W. Dasent tr. Story Burnt Njal II. cxxxiv. 214 Thou wilt treat him best and kindest, as he is footlame [Icel. hann er fótlami].
1918 Jrnl. Amer. Vet. Med. Assoc. Dec. 221 Since the introduction of the rubber pad..foot lame horses are not as plentiful.
2011 Farmers Guardian (Nexis) 22 Apr. 28 Far more attention needs to be paid to hock damage..as many UK cows are likely to be ‘hock lame and not foot lame’.
foot lameness n.
ΚΠ
1824 Sporting Mag. Nov. 73/2 To the moderate pace at which horses in foreign countries are ridden..is to be attributed the more general absence of foot lameness.
1917 Vet. Jrnl. Sept. 327 Foot-lameness in the camel is generally made obvious by swelling.
2005 J. Webster Animal Welfare vi. 144 Foot lameness in dairy cows is not just a problem of getting about; it is an expression of distress.
C2. In compounds forming the names of physical units, esp. those found in the foot-pound-second system (see foot-pound-second adj. at Compounds 3).
footcandle n. a unit of illuminance, defined as the degree of illumination that the interior of a sphere with a radius of one foot would receive from a central point source of one candela.A footcandle is equivalent to one lumen per square metre and frequently approximated as 10.76 lux.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > light > illumination > [noun] > unit of illumination > candela > foot-candle
candle-foot1892
footcandle1906
1906 Illuminating Engineer 1 66/1 The term ‘foot-candle’..expresses but a vague idea to the average architect and engineer.
1951 J. M. Fraser Psychol. xvi. 200 For certain jobs..up to four hundred foot-candles (the equivalent of bright sunlight) have been tried.
2010 Frederick (Maryland) News-Post 7 Nov. m3/4 A 60-watt incandescent light bulb placed 6 feet above a worktable will deliver about 20 footcandles at the table surface.
footlambert n. a unit of luminance equal to 1/π candela per square foot.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > light > illumination > [noun] > unit of illumination > candela > units depending on
lumen1898
footlambert1915
1915 J. R. Cravath in Electr. World 10 July 61/1 The writer recently offered a suggestion that the term ‘foot-lambert’ be adopted as a substitute for the unit now called the ‘foot-candle’..of brightness.
1969 Pop. Mech. Oct. 249 Zenith's new 23-in. color TV tube..measures 49.5 foot lamberts in tests compared to only 22.8 for a conventional tube.
2012 J. Holben Shot in Dark iii. 45 Incident light (measured in footcandles) falls onto a gray wall, and 18% of the light is reflected (measured in footlamberts) toward the lens.
foot-pound n. (a) a unit of energy equal to the energy required to raise a weight of one pound by a height of one foot (now chiefly U.S.); (b) a unit of torque or moment equal to the torque exerted by a force of one pound acting at a distance of one foot from the axis of rotation.In both cases,1 foot-pound is approx. 1.356 newton metres.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > physics > energy or power of doing work > [noun] > specific quantities or units of energy or work
horsepower1806
foot-pound1847
foot-ton1860
kilogrammetre1866
erg1873
kilerg1873
indicated horsepower1881
metre-ton1881
joule1882
watt-hour1888
manpower1893
horsepower-hour1899
horse1904
1847 J. R. & L. D. B. Gordon tr. J. Weisbach Princ. Mech. Machinery & Engin. I. ii. ii. 44 Instead of units of work, we say kilogrammetres, pounds-feet; and inversely, metrekilo. and feet-pounds[Ger. Fußpfund] according as the weight and distance are expressed in kilogrammes and metres, or in pounds and feet.
1857 Encycl. Brit. XIV. 404/2 The ordinary British unit of moment is a foot-pound; but it is to be remembered that this is a foot-pound of a different sort from the unit of energy and work.
1929 Pop. Sci. Monthly June 65/2 It is estimated that the improvement will save American housewives 20,800,000,000 foot-pounds of energy this year.
1991 Kiplinger's Personal Finance Oct. 108/2 The Ford Tempo and Mercury Topaz both have a 3-liter..engine that delivers 135 horsepower and 150 foot-pounds of torque.
2009 Sandusky (Ohio) Reg. 9 Apr. a3/1 At takeoff speeds, a collision with a 12-pound goose generates 10,000 foot-pounds of energy.
foot-poundal n. now rare a unit of work or energy, defined as the work done by a poundal of force acting through a distance of one foot.
ΚΠ
1877 J. T. Bottomley Dynamics viii. 127 Work is measured in British kinetic units of force acted against through a distance of one foot, that is, in foot-poundals.
1963 Post-Standard (Syracuse, N.Y.) 11 Apr. 4/4 Even if one multiplied the 186,000 by 60 to use miles per hour..the answer would be only 124,545,600,000,000 foot-poundals.
foot second n. (a) a unit of velocity, defined as the number of feet travelled by a given object within a second; (b) = cusec n. (rare).In sense (a), now chiefly used to specify the velocity produced by firearm cartridges.
ΚΠ
1866 F. Bashforth Descr. Chronograph 7 Or, converting the differences of the means of the velocities, as determined by the two instruments, into feet-seconds.
1919 Jrnl. Inst. Electr. Engineers 57 427/2 A flow of a cubic foot of water per second (termed a foot-second in America).
1933 Jrnl. Criminal Law & Criminol. 23 1106 This .45 pistol cartridge..delivers about 810 foot seconds velocity.
2010 C. Ashihs in D. Shideler Gun Digest Bk. Classic Combat Handguns 11/1 This is the most powerful handgun cartridge in existence. It develops 1510 foot seconds of muzzle velocity.
foot-ton n. a unit of energy, defined as the amount of energy necessary to raise a ton of mass a foot in height.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > physics > energy or power of doing work > [noun] > specific quantities or units of energy or work
horsepower1806
foot-pound1847
foot-ton1860
kilogrammetre1866
erg1873
kilerg1873
indicated horsepower1881
metre-ton1881
joule1882
watt-hour1888
manpower1893
horsepower-hour1899
horse1904
1860 J. A. Galbraith & S. Haughton Man. Mech. (ed. 5) 93 Ans. 80,635 kilogr.-metres, or 260 foot-tons.
1941 Life 29 Dec. 50/2 A building struck by a 100-lb. bomb feels first the jolt of 675 foot-tons of kinetic energy.
2003 C. Rees Handgun Hunting iv. 62 Its 240-grain bullet at 1,900 feet per second..creates nearly a foot-ton of muzzle energy.
C3.
foot adze n. a long-handled adze, typically used between or near the feet while standing on the surface or object being worked.
ΚΠ
1756 R. Rutherford Return of Stores 18 Apr. in G. Washington Papers (1984) III. 9 Foot Addzes, 2.
1893 Amer. Agriculturist Jan. 4/1 For making a log trough, only an ax and foot-adze are required.
2003 B. J. Howell Folklife Big South Fork Cumberland River ii. 36 Floors were constructed of..split logs turned flat side up and then planed smooth with a foot adze.
foot ale n. regional (now historical) a drink of ale, or the cost of this, exacted as a footing (footing n. 10); (also more generally) any of various ceremonies or customs involving drinking ale.
ΚΠ
1747 W. Hooson Miners Dict. sig. Iv Foot-ale, an old Custom amongst Miners, when a Man enters first into Work, to pay his first Days Wages for Ale.
1787 W. Hutton Courts of Requests 140 One, among many bad customs, is the foot-ale, practised by the lower class, which initiates the young beginner into the early habits of drinking.
1881 S. Evans Evans's Leicestershire Words (new ed.) at Footing A stranger..will generally be asked to ‘stand his foot-ale’.
1912 D. Rorie Mining Folk of Fife 396 She was brought back until the mother got into bed again. Before leaving, the caller got ‘the fitale dram.’
1982 R. Dodsworth Glass & Glassmaking 27/2 One well known ploy was the ‘foot ale’, whereby gaffers extorted money from the apprentices on various pretexts to pay for their drink.
† foot-and-half-foot adj. Obsolete (of a word) having many syllables; = sesquipedalian adj. 1a.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > the arts > literature > style of language or writing > ornateness > [adjective] > using words of many syllables > of words: having many syllables
sesquipedal1611
foot-and-half-foot1616
sesquipedalian1656
tripod1798
crink-crank1865
1616 B. Jonson Every Man in his Humor (rev. ed.) Prol. in Wks. I. 5 With..helpe of some few foot-and-halfe-foote words.
1901 R. B. Cunninghame Graham Vanished Arcadia p. ix Into the whole question of the Jesuits I cannot enter, as it entails command of far more foot and half-foot words than I can muster up.
foot-and-mouth n. = foot and mouth disease n.
ΚΠ
1878 Academy 19 Jan. 66/1 (advt.) ‘SANITAS’ is the best preventive against the spread of Small-pox, Typhus Fever, Scarlet Fever, Hay Fever, Foot-and-Mouth, Cattle, and all Infectious Diseases.
1903 Pastoralists' Rev. 18 May 152/1 The New England States are quarantined for foot-and-mouth.
2005 B. Keating & S. Keating Blood Sisters (2006) x. 187 Our herds could be infected with foot-and-mouth and God knows what.
foot and mouth disease n. a highly contagious disease mainly affecting cattle, sheep, swine, and other cloven-footed animals, characterized by fever and the formation of blisters in the mouth and on the feet and teats, and caused by a picornavirus.Although rarely fatal, foot and mouth disease causes a great loss of productivity in livestock and hence is very rigorously controlled in most countries.
ΘΚΠ
the world > health and disease > ill health > animal disease or disorder > disorders of animals generally > [noun] > foot and mouth
aphthous fever1759
foot and mouth disease1850
hoof and tongue sickness1867
hoof-and-mouth disease1887
aftosa1903
1850 Rep. Commissioners Smithfield Market 77 in Parl. Papers XXXI. 355 Are they [sc. cattle] subject to any contagious disease?—They are; they are subject to a foot and mouth disease, which although not very fatal in its consequences, is very prejudicial.
1869 Echo Oct. 9 The Foot and Mouth Disease which has been raging with some virulence is now beginning to abate.
1949 H. W. C. Vines Green's Man. Pathol. (ed. 17) x. 267 In animals, viruses cause such common diseases as foot-and-mouth disease, distemper, swine fever, the animal poxes, rabies, and many diseases of birds.
2001 Independent on Sunday 6 May i. 1/2 Less than one in five of the country's footpaths are unbarred this bank holiday, although the Government now admits that people who walk on them pose no risk of spreading foot and mouth disease.
footbag n. originally U.S. (a) a small spherical bag typically filled with beads and used in a game of footbag; cf. hacky-sack n.; (b) any of several individual or team games in which the object is to keep a footbag airborne by controlling it with the feet.
ΚΠ
1979 N.Y. Times 16 July c8/4 The footbag, about the size of a golf ball, is made of leather and packed with plastic pellets.
1992 D. Finnigan Compl. Juggler (U.K. ed.) 80 If you watch what the footbag enthusiasts do you can also kick back into your patter using your..instep..the outside of your foot or..the sole of your shoe.
1994 Gazette (Montreal) (Nexis) 21 Apr. g4 Three other youths..were playing footbag, a game with beanbags.
2005 Austin (Texas) Amer.-Statesman (Nexis) 24 Oct. e1 Nearly every day she picks up one of her many footbags..and kicks solo.
foot bank n. now chiefly historical a mound or bank at the foot of something, typically used as a step; esp. (Fortification) a raised step behind a rampart; = banquette n.
ΘΚΠ
society > armed hostility > defence > defensive work(s) > earthwork or rampart > [noun] > parapet > firing platform
foot bench?1575
foot bank1618
banquette1629
step1672
tread1834
firing step1899
fire-step1915
society > faith > artefacts > division of building (general) > altar > parts of altar > [noun] > base
foot bank1618
1618 H. Ainsworth Annot. Third Bk. Moses, called Leuiticus sig. C They layd on the salt..on the foot-bank (of the altar,) and on the top of the Altar.
1638 H. Hexam tr. S. Marolois & A. Girard Art Fortification 24 When it is 6 foote high, then ye must make a foote banke which must be a foote high, and 2, or 3, foote broad, that ye maye the better discouver the fields about ye.
1706 Phillips's New World of Words (new ed.) Foot-bank or Foot-step..a Step..under a Parapet, or Breast-work; upon which the men get up to Fire over it.
1764 D. Bellamy New. Compl. Universal Eng. Dict. (ed. 4) at Circus In the middle [of the Roman circus] was a kind of foot-bank, or eminence, with obelisks, statues, and posts, at each end.
1788 G. Keate Acct. Pelew Islands vii. 204 This wall was ten or twelve feet high, with a foot-bank of stone raised behind, upon which they could stand and throw spears at their enemies.
1882 E. O'Donovan Merv Oasis I. xvi. 275 The footbank has crumbled away to such an extent that only a few inches in breadth remain.
1915 J. G. Rowe Romance Irish Hist. xvi. 148 A bank of earth..with a footbank behind for the Irish..to stand upon and hew and thrust and shoot over it.
2008 P. J. Haythornthwaite Brit. Napoleonic Infantry Tactics 49 (caption) The rubble used to make a ‘foot bank’ allowing the soldier to fire over the lowered top.
† foot base n. Architecture Obsolete a moulding at the bottom of an interior wall.
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1833 J. C. Loudon Encycl. Cottage Archit. iii. iii. 858 The dining and drawing rooms and study to have 10-inch moulded foot base, and marble chimney-pieces.
1883 Ogilvie's Imperial Dict. (new ed.) Footbase, the moulding above the plinth of an apartment.
1889 Trans. Royal Sc. Arboricultural Soc. 12 295 Foot base in parlour and lobby will be 8 inches deep.
foot bass n. any of various bass instruments played with the feet, esp. by means of foot pedals; cf. foot organ n.
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society > leisure > the arts > music > musical instrument > keyboard instrument > stringed keyboards > [noun] > harpsichord > accessory bass
foot bass1786
1786 T. Jefferson Let. 23 Dec. in Writings (1903) VI. 22 I have lately examined a foot-bass newly invented... It is placed on the floor, and the harpsichord..is set over it, the foot acting in concert on that, while the fingers play on this.
1916 O. G. Sonneck Suum Cuique 53 Jefferson's letters contains a detailed description with a careful diagram of Krumpholtz's ‘Foot-bass’, alias Pedalharp.
1973 Galpin Soc. Jrnl. 26 119 The ‘foot-bass’ (Fl. voetbas, Fr. basse du pied) is mentioned in several regions, as before 1900 in Jandrin-Jandrenouille and until 1911 in Suarlée. This is an accordeon played with the feet to supply bass notes whilst playing an ordinary accordeon with the hands. It did not grow very popular.
2014 East Grinstead Courier (Nexis) 10 Apr. 27 Playing acoustic and electric blues, including slide guitar, rack harmonica and foot bass and with a soulful voice, he will be performing with his three-piece band.
foot bath n. (a) a liquid mixture or wash used to bathe the feet; (b) a container or vessel in which the feet are bathed; (c) an act or instance of bathing the feet.
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the world > physical sensation > cleanness and dirtiness > cleaning > washing > washing oneself or body > [noun] > washing the feet > vessel for washing feet
foot bath1561
foot pan1817
tosh-pan1881
the world > physical sensation > cleanness and dirtiness > cleaning > washing > washing agents > [noun] > water or solutions > for washing the feet
foot bath1561
1561 J. Hollybush tr. H. Brunschwig Most Excellent Homish Apothecarye f. 43 If hys head dyd ake of colde then..make him a fote bath [Ger. ein füßwasser] with floures of Cammomile.
1599 A. M. tr. O. Gaebelkhover Bk. Physicke 357/2 Take Oaken-leaues M.iij. Saulte M.j. make therof a footebath[Ger. mach ein Fußwasser darauß].
1651 J. French tr. J. R. Glauber Descr. New Philos. Furnaces ii. 116 This bath..is also good to be used in a foot bath for those that are troubled with corns.
1776 N. D. Falck Treat. Med. Qualities Mercury iii. 213 A foot-bath..of cold water, designed to act as an antispasmodic..has sometimes produced immediate and wonderful relief.
1837 Penny Mag. 21 Oct. 408/1 A large foot-bath, or small tub, may easily be procured.
1903 A. B. Tulloch Recoll. Forty Years' Service i. 9 The basins were placed on the chairs, of which each cadet had one, and also a small tin foot-bath.
1998 Vegetarian Times July 100/3 Make a foot bath by dissolving a half cup of baking soda or apple cider vinegar in two gallons of warm water.
2013 N.Y. Times Mag. 18 Aug. 14 (advt.) Enjoy a warm fragrant footbath, body exfoliation, nurturing warm body mask, plus scalp and foot massages.
foot bearing n. a bearing for the foot of a vertical shaft, spindle, etc.; cf. footstep bearing n. at footstep n. Compounds.
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1835 Repertory Patent Inventions 4 272 Foot bearing to vertical shaft.
1911 Cassier's Mag. Nov. 614/2 When the pulley is rotated the end of the spindle in the foot bearing will describe a circle in a horizontal plane.
2004 D. S. Dickey & J. B. Fasano in E. L. Paul et al. Handbk. Industr. Mixing xxi. 1292 Often, a lower bearing, called a steady bearing or foot bearing, is used to provide a more economical design.
footbed n. an insole in a shoe or boot, used for cushioning or to provide a better fit.
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1969 Skiing Oct. 21 (advt.) New Henke Foot Bed. Shock-absorbing for utmost comfort.
1983 Explore July 1 (advt.) For comfort, the Rainier incorporates a polyurethane footbed insert.
2012 Time Out N.Y. 29 Nov. 26/1 The shock-absorbing Memory Fit Foam-cushioned footbed, soft fabric lining, and springy rubber sole enveloped and padded my paws like a well-worn pair of slippers.
foot bench n. (a) a bench on which to stand or rest the feet; †(b) a raised step behind a rampart; cf. banquette n., foot bank n. (obsolete).
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society > armed hostility > defence > defensive work(s) > earthwork or rampart > [noun] > parapet > firing platform
foot bench?1575
foot bank1618
banquette1629
step1672
tread1834
firing step1899
fire-step1915
?1575 tr. H. Niclaes Epistolæ v. ii. 72 Neither do any of all those likewyse, which iustifye or account themselues faythfull, com to be Foote-bench vnder thy Feete.
1629 tr. S. Pelegromius Descr. S'hertogenbosh 19 Trenches with double bankets or feet benches.
1766 T. H. Croker et al. Compl. Dict. Arts & Sci. III. at Tobacco D, D (fig. 2, and 3) are the foot benchs on which the workman stand.
1857 N. Porter Half-cent. Disc. 50 The sides [of the pews] were so high that we children, who generally sat on the foot-benches in the middle, were in little danger of having our attention distracted by observation of what was going on in the outside world.
1996 B. Krahn Unlikely Angel xiv. 257 He steered her into a guest room, guided her onto a footbench at the end of a fourposter, and knelt before her on the rug.
foot-binder n. a person who binds another's feet; esp. one who practises foot-binding.
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1881 Trans. College Physicians (Philadelphia) 5 4 A strong white cotton cloth is specially woven for the use of foot-binders, and is almost exclusively employed as the bandage material.
1886 Wanderings in China I. 168 Foot-binders..women whose profession it is to produce this horrible distortion.
1917 Friends' Intelligencer 17 Aug. 519/1 China was pictured as the home of opium-smokers, foot-binders and baby-sellers.
2011 Times (Nexis) 18 Mar. t2 21 The bandages were changed every two days, and professional footbinders made them tighter and tighter until the arches of the feet were broken.
foot-binding n. now historical the practice of bending and tightly binding the feet of young girls in order to limit their growth; cf. feet binding n. at Compounds 4.Foot-binding was commonly practised in China from the 12th cent. until banned in the early 20th cent.
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1870 Zion's Herald 15 Dec. 596/1 The cruel and protracted tortures to which the little girls who are permitted to live, and who are destined by their parents for ladies of fashion, are subjected in the process of foot-binding.
1926 N.Y. Times 10 Jan. e7/1 Foot binding is not in vogue today in the upper classes. Only the old traditionary classes are still binding their girls' feet.
2010 P. K. Crossley Wobbling Pivot ii. 32 Foot-binding was an extreme method of restricting women's activities and choices, but an effective one.
foot blast n. now historical a blast furnace which uses foot-operated bellows; the blast produced by such bellows.
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the world > matter > gas > air > moving air > [noun] > a movement of air > a blast or puff of air > artificially produced > produced by (foot-) bellows
foot blast1622
bellows-blast1674
1622 G. de Malynes Consuetudo 273 Vent..for the Litargium..as it is cast vp by the Foot-blast.
1686 R. Plot Nat. Hist. Staffs. iv. 164 Our Ancestors who made Iron in foot blasts or bloomeries, by Mens treading the bellows.
1778 T. Pennant Tour in Wales I. 64 The Romans knew only the weak powers of the foot-blast.
1950 A. L. Rowse Eng. of Elizabeth (1951) 130 Smelting lead-ore in furnace worked by a foot-blast.
1989 D. Kiernan Derbyshire Lead Industry in 16th Cent. v. 188 The simple construction of the footblasts enabled them to be moved to different sites.
† foot boat n. Obsolete a ferry boat for foot passengers only.
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society > travel > travel by water > vessel, ship, or boat > vessel for transporting people or goods > passenger vessel > [noun]
passenger1443
passage boat1567
foot boat1579
passenger ship1602
passage ship1644
passenger boat1837
passenger steamer1851
1579 J. Dee 13 Oct. in Private Diary (1842) 6 The fote bote for the ferry at Kew was drowned and six persons.
a1674 O. Bridgeman Conveyances (1682) 134 Also one other great Horse-boat, fully furnished with Horse-boat Oars, and Shoving-Pole shod with Iron, to them belonging; One Foot-boat, One Pair of Skulls thereunto belonging.
1783 Bermuda Act fixing Rates Ferryage 3 The said Horse and Foot Boats so belonging to the said Ferry, be accounted for by the Public Treasurer.
1841 C. H. Hartshorne Salopia Antiqua 430 Foot boat, a boat solely used for transporting foot passengers.
foot bone n. (a) any of the bones of the foot of a person or animal; (b) spec. the tarso-metatarsus of a bird and the coffin bone of a horse (now rare).
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the world > life > the body > structural parts > bone or bones > bones of hand or foot > bones of foot > [noun]
navicular?a1425
metatarsus?c1425
heel bone1516
astragalus?1541
bonket1552
cube-bone1615
die-bone1634
os calcis1634
foot bone1658
tarsus1676
pterna1684
talus1684
navicular bone1696
astragal1728
calcaneum1728
cuboid bone1829
cuboid1836
metatarsal1837
metapodium1844
tarso-metatarsal1851
arch1858
intermedium1878
tarsal1881
1658 Sir T. Browne Garden of Cyrus iii, in Hydriotaphia: Urne-buriall 158 The thigh-bone, legge, foot-bone, and claws of Birds.
1756 J. Bartlet Gentleman's Farriery (ed. 3) 345 Perhaps the reason of this, may be drawn from the consideration of the manner, in which the coronary bone is joined to the pastern, and foot-bones, by their strong ligaments.
1834 R. Mudie Feathered Tribes Brit. Islands I. 23 The tarsus, or foot-bone.
1930 Condor 32 172/2 Fifteen millimeters of a foot bone afforded discussion of ‘A Pliocene Goose from Ricardo’.
2001 Trav. Afr. Winter 69/3 He found some fossil hominid foot bones in a cardboard box.
footbridge n. (a) a bridge used by, or intended for the sole use of, pedestrians; †(b) Mechanics an arched bridge which carries a footstep bearing (obsolete). [Compare post-classical Latin pons pedalis (1375, 1438 in British sources).]
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society > travel > means of travel > route or way > other means of passage or access > [noun] > bridge > bridge by type of traffic
footbridgec1400
horse-bridge1637
carriage bridge1753
bridle bridge1780
stride1791
pack and prime way (also bridge, road)1798
passerelle1892
c1400 ( Canticum Creatione l. 1139 in C. Horstmann Sammlung Altengl. Legenden (1878) 138 For to ben a fot-brigge.
1511 Pylgrymage Richarde Guylforde (Pynson) f. xxij There lay ouer the same a tree for a fote brydge.
1645 New Haven Colonial Rec. I. 210 A foote bridge formerly made over the Mill River into the Necke.
1710 Boston Town Rec. II. 117 Mr. John Oliver and others..have of Late Layd Timber or plank as a foot bridg over the slip.
1807 G. Crabbe Parish Reg. i, in Poems 66 The Foot-Bridge fail'd, he plung'd beneath the Deep.
1847 Engineer & Machinist's Asst. 150/2 The foot-step of the vertical shaft is carried upon an arch, technically a foot-bridge.
1914 Pop. Mech. Apr. 516/1 One of the suspension footbridges, connecting Easton and South Easton, is, perhaps, the highest footbridge in the United States.
2001 Birmingham Evening Mail (Nexis) 10 Mar. 30 A footbridge..crosses to the National Indoor Arena.
† foot clapper n. Obsolete rare a dancer.
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society > leisure > dancing > dancer generally > [noun]
leapera1000
sailour?a1366
tripperc1380
dancerc1440
sallierc1440
hopperc1480
flinger?a1513
foot clapper1620
pranker1628
saltatorya1640
prancer1653
apache dancer1912
hoofer1923
rug-cutter1934
1620 T. Shelton tr. M. de Cervantes Don Quixote ii. xix. 120 For your Foot-clappers[Sp. zapateadores], I say nothing, you would wonder to see vm bestirre themselues.
foot coal n. Mining (chiefly English regional (north-western)) a stratum of coal separated by a non-carbonaceous layer from overlying coal.
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society > occupation and work > materials > fuel > coal or types of coal > [noun]
coal1253
sea-coal1253
pit-coal1483
cannel1541
earth coala1552
horse coal1552
Newcastle coal1552
stone-coal1585
cannel coal1587
parrot1594
burn-coal1597
lithanthrax1612
stony coal1617
Welsh coala1618
land-coala1661
foot coal1665
peacock coal1686
rough coal1686
white coal1686
heathen-coalc1697
coal-stone1708
round1708
stone-coal1708
bench-coal1712
slipper coal1712
black coal1713
culm1742
rock coal1750
board coal1761
Bovey coal1761
house coal1784
mineral coal1785
splint1789
splint coal1789
jet coal1794
anthracite1797
wood-coal1799
blind-coal1802
black diamond1803
silk-coal1803
glance-coal1805
lignite1808
Welsh stone-coal1808
soft1811
spout coals1821
spouter1821
Wallsend1821
brown coal1833
paper coal1833
steam-coal1850
peat-coal1851
cherry-coal1853
household1854
sinter coal1854
oil coal1856
raker1857
Kilkenny coal1861
Pottery coal1867
silkstone1867
block coal1871
admiralty1877
rattlejack1877
bunker1883
fusain1883
smitham1883
bunker coal1885
triping1886
trolley coal1890
kibble1891
sea-borne1892
jet1893
steam1897
sack coal1898
Welsh1898
navigation coal1900
Coalite1906
clarain1919
durain1919
vitrain1919
single1921
kolm1930
hards1956
the world > the earth > minerals > mineral deposits > [noun] > stratum or bed > of coal > type of coal seam
foot coal1665
foot-rid1665
top coal1803
ten-yard coal1839
rider1840
ten-foot coal1855
top-hard1855
yard-coal1855
yard-seam1862
guide seam1867
main1867
bank1881
rearer1883
thick coal1883
thick seam1883
thin seam1883
1665 D. Dudley Mettallum Martis sig. D4v The three uppermost measures are called the white measures..; the next measure, is the shoulder-cole, the toe-cole, the foot-cole, the yard-cole, the sliper-cole, the sawyer-cole, and the frisly cole.
1712 F. Bellers in Philos. Trans. 1710–12 (Royal Soc.) 27 542 A coarse sort of Coal, called the Foot-Coal.
1840 Knickerbocker 15 105 About a foot from the bottom of every vein, there is a layer of earth... This divides it into ‘foot-coal’ and ‘upper coal’.
1906 Trans. Manch. Geol. & Mining Soc. 29 242 The two seams continue united as the Gannister Four-foot through the Burnley part of the coalfield to Colne, with the same characteristics continuing as those appertaining to the Foot coal before the union.
1995 R. J. O. Hamblin & B. C. Coppick Geol. Telford & Coalbrookdale Coalfield 56/1 A thin coal know as the Foot or Tow Coal occurs locally within the measures.
foot-cock n. English regional (now historical) a small conical heap of hay, grass, etc.; cf. cock n.3The homographic verb in quot. 1794 probably implies currency at a slightly earlier date.
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1794 ‘Pluralist’ Tithes iv. 94 The farmer is compelled to foot-cock all his crop immediately from the scithe.]
1797 J. Bailey & G. Culley Gen. View Agric. Northumberland 100 After the grass is cut it is..put into foot cocks (wappings) which can scarcely be too small.
1834 Brit. Husbandry (Libr. Useful Knowl.) I. 490 The grass..should then be gathered..with forks, into small ‘cocklets’ or ‘foot-cocks’.
1902 Sat. Rev. 12 July 41/1 The recollection of old hay-times... Who hears nowadays of foot-cocks and wind-rows?
1992 M. Harding Daddy Edgar's Pools 37 Each haytime he rakes footcocks by moonlight.
foot cushion n. (a) a cushion for the feet; (b) Entomology a pulvillus; = foot-pad n.2 1b (now rare).
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society > inhabiting and dwelling > inhabited place > a building > furniture and fittings > support or rest > [noun] > for feet
shamblec825
stoola1250
benchc1405
buffet1432
foot cushiona1475
footstool1530
cricket1559
grest1563
foot stock1567
hassock1582
cracket1635
crock1709
tuffet1805
mora1818
footrest1833
toe-board1892
a1475 J. Russell Bk. Nurture (Harl. 4011) in Babees Bk. (2002) i. 177 Þe said shete ouer sprad So þat it keuer þe fote coschyn and chayere.
1808 Monthly Mag. 1 Jan. 547/1 The word pad is used for a foot-cushion.
1828 J. F. Stephens Illustr. Brit. Entomol. I. 79 They [sc. the indigenous Lycænæ] are at once discriminated..from the Polyommati by..the superior size of the pulvilli or foot-cushions.
1908 Trans. Amer. Entomol. Soc. 34 95 Feet [of Helomyza fasciata] black, tawny at the base; foot-cushions very small.
1998 B. Conord & J. Conord Cancun & Cozumel Alive 102 The interior is lush and extravagant, with..velvet foot cushions and Persian carpets.
† foot dirt n. Obsolete rare the dregs or remnants of a liquid; = sense A. 18.
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the world > physical sensation > cleanness and dirtiness > dirtiness > pollution or defilement > [noun] > specific impurities > sediment > of oil
foot1687
foot dirt1811
sludge1920
1811 E. H. East Rep. Cases King's Bench 13 523 Before..oil is delivered, it is the constant custom..for a broker..to attend to make a minute of the foot-dirt and water in each cask.
foot-dragger n. a person who resists or delays taking action or making a decision; also in extended use; cf. to drag one's feet at drag v. 1b.
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1946 J. F. Lincoln Lincoln's Incentive Syst. x. 172 Do not hesitate when sure. The rising man must not be held back by some foot-dragger.
1989 B. H. Kerblay Gorbachev's Russia ii. 38 It is time to call the foot-draggers to account.
2006 Private Eye 7 July 9/2 Only one member state dragged its feet and tried to delay matters by saying the proposed new openness was a step too far. The foot-dragger in question? Step forward..the United Kingdom!
foot-dragging n. and adj. (a) n. the action of being reluctant or slow to act or make a decision; a delay or slowness; (b) adj. characterized by foot-dragging; cf. to drag one's feet at drag v. 1b.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > manner of action > slowness of action or operation > [noun] > slowness to act
retardation1633
dilatoriness1642
tarditude1794
laggardness1869
impromptitude1887
foot-dragging1947
the world > time > a suitable time or opportunity > untimeliness > delay or postponement > [noun] > delaying tactics
ambage1546
stall off1819
delaying tactic1867
waiting race1868
waiting game1890
foot-dragging1947
1947 N.Y. Times 25 Oct. 1/2 The ‘foot-dragging and fumbling’ which marked the mobilization for World War II had unnecessarily wasted thousands of lives.
1966 Life 6 May 49/1 To militant civil-rights campaigners he is a foot-dragging temporizer.
1969 Guardian 31 Jan. 10/2 There is no university now which does not have some appeals machinery..though there has been some foot-dragging on other issues.
2014 Times 4 June 2/2 Delays may also indicate a degree of foot-dragging within Whitehall.
foot drain n. a narrow, shallow ditch or channel serving as a drain, esp. in wetland.
ΘΚΠ
the world > food and drink > farming > cultivation or tillage > preparation of land or soil > ditching or drainage > [noun] > ditch
dikec893
gripa1000
ditch1045
fosselOE
water-furrowlOE
sow1316
furrowc1330
rick1332
sewer1402
gripplec1440
soughc1440
grindle1463
sheugh1513
syre1513
rain?1523
trench1523
slough1532
drain1552
fowsie?1553
thorougha1555
rean1591
potting1592
trink1592
syver1606
graft1644
work1649
by-ditch1650
water fence1651
master drain1652
rode1662
pudge1671
gripe1673
sulcus1676
rhine1698
rilling1725
mine1743
foot trench1765
through1777
trench drain1779
trenchlet1782
sunk fence1786
float1790
foot drain1795
tail-drain1805
flow-dike1812
groopa1825
holla1825
thorough drain1824
yawner1832
acequia madre1835
drove1844
leader1844
furrow-drain1858
1795 C. Vancouver Gen. View Agric. Essex 22 A considerable improvement has been made by the same gentleman by forming walking paths through the wet woodlands [printed wooodlands]: foot drains, or those one spit wide and deep are there cut parallel to each other.
1808 C. Vancouver Gen. View Agric. Devon xi. 285 To receive the surface-water from foot-drains laid out upon the surface of the morass.
1913 School Board Jrnl. (U.S.) Nov. 18/2 The basement is protected from the ground water from the hillside back of it by a foot drain.
2012 M. Ausden & M. Bolton in R. J. Fuller Birds & Habitat ii. xi. 279 Footdrains..have been excavated and water levels raised.
foot-drop n. Medicine a condition in which the foot cannot be raised towards the shin (dorsiflexed), resulting from weakness or paralysis of muscles located in front of the tibia and fibula; cf. drop-foot n. at drop- comb. form 2.
ΘΚΠ
the world > health and disease > ill health > a disease > disorders of visible parts > [noun] > disorders of extremities > of the foot
foot evil1562
buniona1718
onion1785
Madura foot1855
fallen arch1858
claw-foot1862
foot-drop1886
tarsalgia1890
Morton's metatarsalgia1891
fallen instep1904
Madura disease1904
trench foot1915
maduromycosis1916
drop-foot1921
immersion foot1941
1886 Lancet 14 Aug. 320/1 In lead paralysis we have wrist-drop; in alcoholic paralysis, foot-drop.
1920 Glasgow Herald 8 July 4 Conditions affecting the feet..e.g. foot-drop, corns and contracted toes, clawfoot.
2010 New Scientist 3 Apr. 17/1 Neurostep..controls ankle movement for people with foot-drop, a condition in which nerve damage makes one foot hang limply while stepping forward.
† foot-failing adj. poetic Obsolete rare that cannot be walked on.
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1609 J. Davies Holy Roode sig. B3v To march vpon the Seas foot-failing floore?
foot fetish n. a sexual fetish centred on feet.
ΚΠ
1911 Amer. Jrnl. Psychol. 22 413 The male child thinks his own sex organs so interesting and important that he cannot think of any one without one... Certain foot fetishes seem to be the outgrowth of a substitution of the foot, for this much-valued organ.
1991 Irish Times 11 June 5/3 Cinderella's prince emerges as a lout with a foot fetish.
2005 Dance Chron. 28 106 Gautier would connect the two tales, elaborating on what was tantamount to a foot fetish and acknowledging the importance of feet in his life.
foot fetishism n. sexual fetishism centred on feet; an instance of this.
ΚΠ
1892 C. G. Chaddock tr. R. von Krafft-Ebing Psychopathia Sexualis 155 Certain forms of body-fetichism (hand- and foot-fetichism) probably have a more or less distinct connection with the latter two perversions [sc. sadism and masochism].
1918 N.Y. Med. Jrnl. 19 Oct. 669/2 From the age of five the patient has been an insatiable voyeur—a condition, in this case, coupled with an immutable foot fetishism.
2014 F. Toates How Sexual Desire Works xix. 380 Shoe fetishism is common relative to foot fetishism.
foot fetishist n. a person who has a foot fetish.
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1892 C. G. Chaddock tr. R. von Krafft-Ebing Psychopathia Sexualis 161 Next to the hand-fetichists, naturally come the foot-fetichists.
1920 G. S. Hall tr. S. Freud Gen. Introd. Psychoanal. xxii. 302 Through this fixation of the libido the man did not become neurotic but perverse, a foot fetishist, as we say.
1964 Observer 13 Dec. 25/3 She..acted with everything she'd got, including her bare toes...I'll be surprised if she doesn't get a very heavy fan mail from foot-fetishists.
2004 C. Varrin Female Dominance (2005) x. 138 Another very popular activity for the foot fetishist..is tying your feet to his face.
† foot-firm adj. poetic Obsolete rare (of ground) firm to the feet.
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1813 ‘Æditus’ Metrical Remarks 29 The foot-firm sand Stretches its lengthened course along the land.
foot follower n. [translating classical Latin pedisequus, pedisequa pediseque n.] (a) an attendant or foot servant (now historical); (b) a person who follows a hunt on foot rather than on horseback.
ΘΚΠ
society > authority > subjection > service > servant > personal or domestic servant > attendant or personal servant > [noun]
thanea700
yeoman1345
squirec1380
foot followera1382
handservanta1382
servitora1382
ministera1384
servera1425
squire of (or for) the body (or household)1450
attender1461
waitera1483
awaiter1495
tender?a1505
waiting-man1518
satellite?1520
attendant1555
sitter-byc1555
pediseque1606
asseclist?1607
tendant1614
assecle1616
fewterera1625
escudero1631
peon1638
wait1652
under spur-leather1685
body servant1689
slavey1819
tindal1859
maid-attendant1896
a1382 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Bodl. 959) (1963) 3 Kings xx. 14 Bi þe foot foleweris [L. pedisequos] of þe princes of prouyncis.
a1382 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Bodl. 959) (1963) 1 Kings xxv. 42 Fyue childwymmen hir feet foleweris [L. pedisequae] wentyn wiþ hir.
1661 Princess Cloria v. 599 Foot followers..all clade in the same livery and colours.
1807 T. Williamson Oriental Field Sports I. iv. 45 The tiger's presence is generally announced by an attack on one of the foot followers.
1874 E. C. Otté Scand. Hist. xvii. 229 Sixteen powerful men were then chosen for his body-guard, and soon a few hundreds more Dalesmen offered him their services as foot-followers.
1983 M. Huskisson Outfoxed 181 To hold up a covert is to surround it with riders and foot followers so that cubs cannot escape during cubhunting.
2000 Country Illustr. Apr. 66/3 ‘There's a redcoat!’ cry the foot followers, after a very long, very patient wait..in the rain.
foot-foundered adj. now rare lamed.
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1621 P. Hume Flytting betwixt Montgomerie & Polwart (Hart) sig. C3 Foot foundred beasts, for fault of food, full weake Hes not their hair so snod as other good.
a1792 S. Hearne Journey from Prince of Wales's Fort (1795) vi. 186 This being the first time I had been in such a situation, or seen any body foot-foundered, I was much alarmed, and under great apprehensions for the consequences.
1802 R. Bloomfield Rural Tales 48 A poor old Man, foot-founder'd and alone.
2006 L. Doughty Stone Cradle 27 I am knocked up and foot foundered, Mary. I have walked from Essex.
foot-free adj. and adv. now somewhat rare having the foot or feet free or untied; (also) free from ties, obligations, or constraints.
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society > authority > lack of subjection > freedom or liberty > [adjective] > free from confinement
freeOE
deliverc1300
loose1303
unironedc1450
unbandoned1487
slack1565
unshut1610
unpinioned1621
unthronged1648
untrapped1648
unconfined1649
footloose1702
unensnareda1711
uncaged1731
unlockeda1740
unfettered1748
uncramped1797
unshackled1816
unleashed1825
foot-free1837
unhandcuffed1861
1837 W. Irving Adventures Capt. Bonneville I. 50 When a horse that is ‘foot free’, is tied to one thus secured, the latter forms..a pivot, round which the other runs.
1871 R. Browning Balaustion 88 Thou, who stood'st Foot-free o' the snare.
1933 Rotarian Apr. 24/1 Because the world is enormously varied and man's life is brief, the most alert and footfree individual can have only a limited experience.
1983 G. A. Lutz Tangled Web xxiii. 164 Those three had money in their pockets, and they were foot free.
foot fungus n. any of various fungi that infect the feet or nails, esp. those causing athlete's foot.
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1866 G. Harkey & G. T. Brrown Histol. Demonstrations 255 Mycetoma Carteri, the foot-fungus of India. In this affection, the bones of the foot become perforated in every direction with canals.
1870 Lancet 27 Aug. 290/1 We have seen favus or achorion Schonleinii grown on slices of apple, or the fearful foot-fungus of India reproduced by cultivation from the germ by Mr. Berkeley.
1952 Jrnl. Royal Army Med. Corps 98 307 I would like to say that I am not at all in agreement with the views presented on the treatment of foot fungus infections.
2013 Spur (Southwest State University) (Nexis) 10 Oct. Living in a dormitory, sharing bathrooms and showers put students at a risk for this foot fungus.
† foot-gang n. Obsolete (a) a wooden plank or planks forming a walkway or floor; (b) a long, low, narrow chest or footstool extending along the length of a bed and used as a step; (c) as much ground as a person can move on (rare).Sense (c) is apparently only attested in dictionaries or glossaries.
ΘΚΠ
society > inhabiting and dwelling > inhabited place > a building > furniture and fittings > chest of drawers > [noun] > other types of
foot-gang1530
lobby chest1803
wagon box1810
wagon chest1827
bahut1840
Wellington chest1880
tansu1885
mule chest1911
Wellington1936
the world > space > [noun] > sufficient space or room > room to live, move, or work
elbow roomc1540
scope1555
play1659
foot-gang1814
living space1852
living room1935
1530 in H. M. Paton Accts. Masters of Wks. (1957) I. f. 33v For 1c firryn sparris for the skaitgis to fut gangis.
1663 Inventory Ld. J. Gordon's Furnit. in J. Nicholson Minute Bk. War Comm. Covenanters Kirkcudbright (1855) 186 Ane arm chair, two stooles and ane foot gange conforme to the bed.
1734 J. J. Vernon Parish & Kirk Hawick (1900) 211 Paid to my son for nealling and mending the footgang, and pitting back the perpell..£0.4.0.
1746 in Sc. Jrnl. (1848) 2 28 Four beds; two fitgangs; three big chists.
1814 C. I. Johnstone Saxon & Gaël I. 108 I'll warran' she'll keep her ain side of the house; an' a fit-gang on her half-marrow's.
1825 J. Jamieson Etymol. Dict. Sc. Lang. Suppl. 409/2 Fit-gang, as much ground as one can move on.
1883 J. R. Tudor Orkneys & Shetland 653 Foot-gang, apparently a lower seat which could also be used as a foot-rest.
† foot-geld n. [compare post-classical Latin fotgeldum (frequently from 11th cent. in British sources)] Feudal Law Obsolete (historical in later use) a penalty imposed under forest law for not expeditating or lawing a dog (see expeditate v., law v. 3).
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society > authority > punishment > fine > [noun] > arbitrary fine or amercement
foot-geld1227
amercementa1325
mercyc1325
mercementa1387
amerciament1388
merciamentc1455
1227 Charter Roll, 11 Henry III, Part 1 (P.R.O.: C 53/18) m. 12 De..horngeld & fotgeld & de Blodwyte & fictwyte.
1594 R. Crompton L'Authoritie & Iurisdict. des Courts f. 197 Footegeld.
1607 J. Cowell Interpreter sig. Hh3/2 Foutgeld..signifieth an amercement for not cutting out the balles of great doogges feet in the forest.
1736 W. Nelson Laws of Eng. conc. Game (ed. 3) 99 A Man claimed to be quit of Foot-Geld, and produced a Grant for the same, which was allowed; But a Man cannot prescribe for the same.
foot gin n. †(a) a snare for catching an animal by the foot; cf. foot-grin n. (obsolete); (b) a type of cotton gin operated by a foot treadle (now chiefly historical).
ΘΚΠ
the world > food and drink > hunting > equipment > trap or snare > [noun]
grinc825
trapa1000
snarea1100
swikea1100
granea1250
springec1275
gina1300
gnarea1325
stringc1325
trebuchet1362
latch?a1366
leashc1374
snarlc1380
foot gina1382
foot-grina1382
traina1393
sinewa1400
snatcha1400
foot trapa1425
haucepyc1425
slingc1425
engine1481
swar1488
frame1509
brakea1529
fang1535
fall trap1570
spring1578
box-trapa1589
spring trapa1589
sprint1599
noosec1600
springle1602
springe1607
toil1607
plage1608
deadfall1631
puppy snatch1650
snickle1681
steel trap1735
figure (of) four1743
gun-trap1749
stamp1788
stell1801
springer1813
sprent1822
livetrap1823
snaphance1831
catch pole1838
twitch-up1841
basket-trap1866
pole trap1879
steel fall1895
tread-trap1952
conibear trap1957
conibear1958
a1382 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Douce 369(1)) (1850) Jer. v. 26 Grenes puttende, and feet gynnes [L. pedicas].
1802 J. Drayton View S.-Carolina 132 Various kinds of gins are used for extricating this valuable staple [sc. cotton] from its seed. Those at present in use, are foot gins, Evees's gins, barrel gins, and saw gins.
1897 H. G. Dakyns tr. Xenophon On Hunting ix, in tr. Xenophon Wks. III. 109 Place the foot-gin deep enough to be just even with the surface of the soil, and round the circle of the crown the cord-noose.
1913 H. Kinne & A. M. Cooley Shelter & Clothing viii. 103 Most of the cotton to-day is ginned by machinery. In India and China the foot gins and other primitive types are still used.
1993 J. H. Moore Columbia & Richland County iv.66 A worker could clean about twenty pounds a day with a foot gin.
foot glove n. a type of thick sock or covering for the foot, now esp. one having separate parts for the toes.
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the world > textiles and clothing > clothing > types or styles of clothing > footwear > shoe or boot > shoe > [noun] > types of > other
high shoea1387
patten1390
nine1599
foot glove1720
nullifier1840
mud-scow1863
sew-round1885
trilby1895
Buster Brown1904
straight1934
1720 D. Defoe Life Capt. Singleton 161 The Buskins and Foot-Gloves we wore.
1854 W. Graham Jordan & Rhine vii. 156 The socks are white, and the foot-gloves yellow.
1947 Life 17 Mar. 68/2 While obi and kimono are the main points of a geisha's costume, it is the small details, like her scarf and footgloves, which really show whether she is well dressed.
2013 Times (Nexis) 26 Mar. 7 30 runners..are attempting spring marathons wearing either no shoes or minimalist ‘footgloves’.
foot grease n. (a) the residue left behind after the oil has been pressed out of a cotton or olive (now rare); (b) a grease used to waterproof the feet.During the First World War, foot grease, in sense (b), was commonly used as a means of preventing trench foot.
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the world > textiles and clothing > textiles > treated or processed textiles > [noun] > cotton > refuse of cotton seed
foot grease1882
1882 Canada Gaz. 27 May 1932/2 ‘Foot Grease’, the refuse of the cotton seed after the oil is pressed out.
1907 Colonial Import Duties 267 in Parl. Papers (Cd. 3708) LXXXI. 185 Foot-grease, being the refuse of cotton seed or olives after the oil has been pressed out.
1916 Chemist & Druggist 5 Feb. 36/1 The lecturer referred to a mixture of tallow, lard, salicylic acid, and lemon oil which is being used by the Italian authorities as a foot-grease.
2009 A. Weeks Tea, Rum & Fags xvii. 162 They were still flogging jam in Béthune a year later, except that the tins actually contained foot grease.
† foot-grin n. Obsolete a snare; = foot gin n. (a).
ΘΚΠ
the world > food and drink > hunting > equipment > trap or snare > [noun]
grinc825
trapa1000
snarea1100
swikea1100
granea1250
springec1275
gina1300
gnarea1325
stringc1325
trebuchet1362
latch?a1366
leashc1374
snarlc1380
foot gina1382
foot-grina1382
traina1393
sinewa1400
snatcha1400
foot trapa1425
haucepyc1425
slingc1425
engine1481
swar1488
frame1509
brakea1529
fang1535
fall trap1570
spring1578
box-trapa1589
spring trapa1589
sprint1599
noosec1600
springle1602
springe1607
toil1607
plage1608
deadfall1631
puppy snatch1650
snickle1681
steel trap1735
figure (of) four1743
gun-trap1749
stamp1788
stell1801
springer1813
sprent1822
livetrap1823
snaphance1831
catch pole1838
twitch-up1841
basket-trap1866
pole trap1879
steel fall1895
tread-trap1952
conibear trap1957
conibear1958
a1382 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Douce 369(1)) (1850) Job xviii. 10 His foot grene [L. pedica] is hid in the erthe.
† foot-halt n. Obsolete footrot or other form of infection or inflammation of the feet causing lameness in sheep.
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the world > health and disease > ill health > animal disease or disorder > disorders of cattle, horse, or sheep > [noun] > disorders of cattle or sheep > foot-rot
clausick1277
foot evil1562
loor1587
footrot1706
halt1742
foot-halt1788
hoof-rot1863
1788 London Chron. 16 Sept. 275/3 The following cure for the disorder called the foot-halt in sheep was accidentally discovered, by a farmer near Luton, a short time since.
1840 Jrnl. Royal Agric. Soc. 1 iii. 320 Another form of this complaint [foot-rot], and known also by the names of foot-halt, lore, &c...generally proceeds from a strain or blow.
1905 Austral. Town & Country Jrnl. (Sydney) 4 Jan. 25/2 There are two kinds of foot-rot—the simple inflammation of the feet, and the contagious form... Constant travelling often causes it [sc. simple inflammation], and sometimes sheep on the roads will develop this trouble, which was known in the old days as foot-halt.
foot hedge n. now rare a simple hedge consisting of a row of plants having no surrounding ditch; cf. foot set n.
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the world > food and drink > farming > hedging > [noun] > types of hedge
foot set1601
foot hedge1701
the world > food and drink > farming > hedging > [noun] > protection for new hedge
foot hedge1701
1701 W. Kennett Cowell's Interpreter (new ed.) sig. Z/1 Inhoc,..any corner or out part of a common Field ploughed up and sowed..and sometimes fenced off with a dry foot Hedge.
1744 W. Ellis Mod. Husbandman Jan. xii. 93 A Foot-hedge is one that has no Ditch belonging to it.
1854 A. E. Baker Gloss. Northants. Words I. 250 Foot-hedge, a slight dry hedge of thorns, placed by the side of a newly-planted hedge, to protect the quick.
1934 T. Hennell Change in Farm iv. 41 The old name for the mound on which the hedge grows is the floor-bank, or flower-bank; a hedge without one, consisting simply of a row of quick with a railing on either side to defend it till it can defend itself, is called a foot-hedge.
foothole n. a hole into which the foot or feet may be inserted; one used as a foothold; (also) a hole made by a foot.In quot. a1589: spec. a hole in a trap or snare into which an animal steps.
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society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > mountaineering or climbing > [noun] > hold
footholea1589
fingerhold1720
handhold1726
side hold1829
toe-hole1876
push hold1904
side pull1920
under-hold1920
pressure hold1941
hand jam1948
thank God hold1955
undergrip1955
jug1957
chickenhead1961
crimp1994
a1589 L. Mascall Bk. Fishing (1590) 59 Which line must come vnder the ende of the planke, and drawne out at the foote hole.
1813 Trans. Soc. Arts, Manuf., & Commerce 31 149 The use of these feet-holes are for pressing.
1824 W. S. Gilly Narr. Mountains Piemont vii. 145 Steps, or foot-holes, cut in the rock.
1910 Fortn. Rev. 1 Sept. 540 The chief cause of delay is the slow drying of the soil in the region of the foot-holes caused by the bowlers.
1918 J. H. Morgan Gentlemen at Arms xii. 189 Each man put his left foot in a foot-hole cut in the wall of the trench and, reaching up, firmly gripped a stake in the parapet above him.
2015 Daily Tel. (Nexis) 25 Apr. (Sport section) 2 Some footholes..had been causing England pace bowler Stuart Broad problems in his run-up.
† foot husk n. Obsolete a (short) calyx.
ΘΚΠ
the world > plants > part of plant > reproductive part(s) > flower or part containing reproductive organs > [noun] > parts of > calyx
husk1530
impalement1672
perianthium1687
foot husk1688
calyx1693
coffin1727
vase1728
flower-cup1756
perianth1785
calyx-segment1870
hull1883
1688 R. Holme Acad. Armory ii. vi. 111/2 Wild field Bell-flower, commonly called blew bells, are dented in the edges into five sharp points; set in a long and slender leafy foot-husk.
1706 Phillips's New World of Words (new ed.) Foot-husks, are short Heads, out of which Flowers grow.
1728 E. Chambers Cycl. Husk, among Botanists, the Part which a Flower grows out of... Of these there are several Kinds, as bulbous or round Husks, Bottle Husks, middle Husks, Foot Husks, Hose Husks, &c.
foot iron n. (a) a piece of sheet-iron used as a platform or step; an iron footplate (footplate n. 1a); Curling a piece of frosted sheet-iron formerly laid on the ice and used by a player to stand on while delivering the stone; cf. crampet n. 3, hack n.1 3c; (b) an iron shackle for the foot or feet.
ΘΚΠ
the world > textiles and clothing > clothing > types or styles of clothing > footwear > parts of footwear > [noun] > protective studs or plates > to protect when digging
foot iron1741
tramp1825
tread1842
tramp-clog1894
society > travel > means of travel > a conveyance > vehicle > cart, carriage, or wagon > carriage for conveying persons > [noun] > parts of > step
foot iron1741
carriage step1799
step1816
footplate1833
tread-steps1837
1741 W. Ellis Mod. Husbandman May 39 A small Foot-Iron, jetting out on one side their Top, which being forced into the Ground, very dexterously eradicates a Dock at once.
1833 J. Cairnie Ess. Curling 45 Another great advantage from the foot-iron, is, that it brings us more on a level with the ice.
1842 G. W. Francis Dict. Arts Foot Iron, an iron fastened to the foot, in order to preserve the shoe while digging.
1858 P. L. Simmonds Dict. Trade Products Foot-iron, Foot-plate, a step for a carriage.
1901 J. Codman Arnold's Exped. to Quebec xvii. 275 At 2 o'clock a load of foot-irons and handcuffs was brought to the prison.
1930 Pop. Sci. Apr. 77/1 Leather straps laced through triangles attached to the foot irons and the strips under the ends of the seats.
2000 J. Burnett Riot, Revelry & Rout iv. 58 The most widely-used utensil for remaining upright during delivery was the foot-iron or footboard, later and confusingly called the crampit. It was invented by John Cairnie of Largs, about 1820.
foot-jaw n. Zoology a maxilliped, esp. of a crustacean (now rare).
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the world > animals > invertebrates > phylum Arthropoda > [noun] > member of > parts of > mouth-like appendage
maxilla1798
foot-jaw1828
maxilliped1846
masticatory foot1852
mouth organ1863
gnathite1870
jaw-foot1871
gnathobase1881
jaw-process1881
malipede1883
1828 J. Stark Elements Nat. Hist. II. 183 Feet-jaws membranous.
1922 R. W. Hegner Pract. Zool. xv. 134 The six pairs of mouth parts work together, the two pairs of..auxiliary jaws and..foot jaws holding the food while it is being crushed by the true jaws.
1981 Crustaceana 40 22 They described..one pair of mandibles, one pair of maxillae and erroneously, two pairs of maxillipeds or foot-jaws.
foot key n. an organ pedal.
ΚΠ
1834 Penny Mag. 8 Nov. 436/2 There are fours rows of keys, and one extensive set of pedals, or foot-keys.
2006 Bismark (N. Dakota) Tribune (Nexis) 25 May Gray wears specialized shoes;..thin soles allow the organist to feel the individual foot keys.
foot kisser n. a person who kisses another's foot or feet; (also) an obsequious or sycophantic person; cf. foot licker n.
ΚΠ
1840 G. Darley Thomas à Becket iii. i. 70 Chief foot-kissers of the King.
1869 R. Browning Ring & Bk. III. ix. 226 Born foot-washer and foot-wiper, nay Foot-kisser to each comrade of you all!
1915 Watson's Mag. Feb. 217/1 Three-fourths of the clerks in the Departments in Washington are god-eaters and foot-kissers.
2003 Daily Mirror (Nexis) 18 Mar. 4 (headline) Foot kisser at it again.
† foot knave n. Obsolete a foot servant.
ΘΚΠ
society > authority > subjection > service > servant > personal or domestic servant > attendant or personal servant > [noun] > footman
footmanc1405
foot knavea1425
lackey1512
lacket1523
staffier1532
outrunner1598
fore-footman1610
skip-kennel1668
fart-catcher1785
carriage man1857
a1425 (?c1350) Ywain & Gawain (1964) l. 2267 Þe laddes of his kychyn, And also..his werst fote-knave.
c1440 (c1350) Octovian (Thornton) l. 1195 (MED) Ilke a knyghte salle thritty sqwyers hafe, And ilke a sqwyere a fote-knaue.
† foot land-raker n. Obsolete a footpad, a vagabond.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > possession > taking > stealing or theft > thief > robber > [noun] > highwayman > footpad
trailer1591
commissioner of Newmarket heath1592
foot land-raker1598
striker1598
padder1610
footman1615
footpad1670
low pad1673
spice1819
padfoot1838
1598 W. Shakespeare Henry IV, Pt. 1 ii. i. 73 I am ioyned with no footlande rakers . View more context for this quotation
† foot lea n. English regional Obsolete the lowest part of a tract of land.
ΚΠ
1638 Terrier of Claybrook Glebe in S. Evans Leicestershire Words (new ed.) 165 In the New Close a hadley and footeleay butting North and South.
1881 S. Evans Evans's Leicestershire Words (new ed.) Foot-ley, the lowest ‘land’ in a grass field.
foot length n. (a) a length equivalent to that of a person's foot; a linear foot (sense A. 6a); the length of a person's or animal's foot; †(b) Angling the end portion or tippet of a fly-fishing line, made of twisted horsehair or silkworm gut; cf. gut-length n. at gut n. Compounds 2, foot line n. 3a (obsolete).
ΘΚΠ
the world > food and drink > hunting > fishing > fishing-tackle > fishing-line > [noun] > lower part of
foot length1625
foot line1706
bottom line1722
1625 M. Sutcliffe Blessings on Mount Gerizzim iii. xi. 335 If I do not make him in this poynt a foote length of nose like a Curliew, let the Pope..make him king of the Canaries.
1747 B. Martin Philosophia Britannica I. vii. 126 It will vibrate only by a Foot-Length at the same time thro' the whole String.
1800 S. Taylor Angling in all its Branches ii. 112 Take your foot-length or gut-length..and loop it to the reel-line.
1912 R. E. Lloyd Growth of Groups in Animal Kingdom vi. 100 Great differences in foot length..may occur in the same community of rats.
2006 J. Utts & R. Heckard Stat. Ideas & Methods v. 166/1 Suppose Max is 70 inches tall and has a foot length of 28.5 cm.
† foot-level n. Obsolete rare a foot rule consisting of two parts connected by a hinge, one of these parts containing a spirit level.
ΚΠ
1728 E. Chambers Cycl. at Foot Foot Level, an Instrument, which serves to do the Office both of a Level, a Square, and a Foot Rule.
1889 Cent. Dict. Foot-level, a hinged one-foot rule, with a spirit level in the upper edge of one arm. [Also in later dictionaries.]
foot licker n. a slave; a fawning or obsequious person, a sycophant; foot kisser n.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > esteem > approval or sanction > commendation or praise > flattery or flattering > servile flattery or currying favour > [noun] > servile flatterer
papelard1340
placeboc1395
fawnerc1440
pickthank1460
adulator?a1475
earwigc1475
curry-favel1515
men-pleaser1526
gnatho1533
upcreeperc1540
claw-back1549
curry-favourer1563
man-pleaser1564
claw-poll1569
please-man1570
sycophant1575
curry-favour1577
capper1587
insinuator1598
clawera1603
scrape-shoe1607
suck-fist1611
courtiera1616
foot lickera1616
fleerera1627
wriggler1631
fawn1635
limberham1689
toad-eater1742
tuft-hunter1755
arse-kisser1766
sleeve-creeper1809
lick-spit1822
lickspittle1825
shoe-licker1826
toady1826
toad1831
toader1842
bootlicker1846
bootlick1849
favour-currier1855
lubricator1872
bum-sucker1877
handshaker1884
suck1900
mbongo1911
sucker-up1911
apple-polisher1918
snurge1933
ass-licker1939
brown-nose1939
brown-noser1942
arse-licker1951
ass-kisser1951
greaser1959
suck-hole1966
suck-up1970
bumboy1984
fly-
a1616 W. Shakespeare Tempest (1623) iv. i. 219 Do that good mischeefe, which may make..thy Caliban For aye thy foot-licker . View more context for this quotation
1781 Barbados Mercury 27 Oct. Your sentiments correspond with my ideas of liberty; any other principles would only suit a foot-licker.
1867 T. Carlyle Reminisc. (1881) I. 258 On visit to some footlicker whose people lived there.
1910 H. H. Richardson Getting of Wisdom xx. 208 Her outward behaviour was..that of a footlicker.
2009 Weekender (S. Afr.) (Nexis) 9 May The racial nativists called us ‘foot lickers’ of the white man.
foot-licking adj. fawning, obsequious.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > esteem > approval or sanction > commendation or praise > flattery or flattering > servile flattery or currying favour > [adjective]
fikingc1230
papelarda1500
gnathonical1540
clawing1574
pickthank1575
slavering1575
claw-back1577
courting1580
fawning1585
adulatory1587
insinuating1592
insinuative1592
scraping1599
adulatorious1612
men-pleasing1615
pickthanking1621
sycophantical1632
gnathonic1637
insinuanta1639
sycophantizing1640
ingratiating1642
led1672
sycophanting1674
sycophantly1680
sycophanta1684
sycophantica1698
pickthankly1702
assiduous1725
foot-licking1786
tuft-hunting1789
sycophantish1821
favour-currying1831
bootlicking1849
toadying1863
creepy-crawly1890
slauming1904
toadyish1909
ass-licking1940
ass-kissing1942
brown-nosing1946
arse-licking1950
sucky1991
1786 R. Burns Let. 1 Dec. (1985) I. 68 Those windfalls of fortune, which frequently light on hardy impudence and foot-licking servility.
1821 T. Moore Mem. (1853) III. 276 If they know no medium between brawling rebellion and foot-licking idolatry.
1991 Z. Edgell In Times like These xxxvi. 211 Someone, probably some foot-licking permanent secretary, phoned to say that from now on all my programmes should be more upbeat.
footlocker n. originally and chiefly U.S. a small trunk or storage chest.
ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > equipment > receptacle or container > box > [noun] > chest > small
forcet1426
forceletc1475
coffret1485
fostler1531
footlocker1882
1882 P. H. Emerson Paul Ray at Hosp. xxxiii. 331 Just visible beneath the beds were oak foot lockers for the patients' clothes.
1918 Sun (Baltimore) 1 Mar. 5/3 I discovered they'd shipped my foot-locker by a different train.
1969 Sears, Roebuck Catal. Spring–Summer 298 Metal-covered Footlocker. Features a removable full-length molded plastic tray. Sheet steel covers sturdy plywood frame, fiberboard..top and bottom.
2014 N.Y. Times (Nexis) 17 Sept. b17 Mr. Strapp..faced court-martial..for refusing an order to open his footlocker, which served as his unit's library of leftist literature.
foot log n. U.S. a simple footbridge made of a log or logs.
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1808 National Intelligencer & Washington Advertiser 7 Mar. There is not a water course, but may at all times be crossed without danger or difficulty, even in times of the highest freshes, by the help of foot logs.
1873 J. H. Beadle Undeveloped West xxii. 446 An important bridge has been washed away, leaving only a foot-log, on which the passengers cross.
1945 B. A. Botkin Lay My Burden Down 252 Go to the mill and cross on a foot log.
1996 Backpacker Dec. 47/2 Most major trails have bridges or footlogs where they cross streams.
foot maid n. rare in later use a female attendant or foot servant; cf. foot maiden n.
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society > authority > subjection > service > servant > personal or domestic servant > attendant or personal servant > [noun] > female
thuftena1100
handmaidc1300
damselc1330
maid womanc1330
handmaidenc1350
handwomana1382
foot maid?a1475
foot maidenc1480
waiting-woman1565
waitressc1595
waiter1639
attendressa1661
?a1475 Ludus Coventriae (1922) 64 Sche xal be here foot mayd to mynyster here most mylde.
a1500 Disciplina Clericalis in Western Reserve Univ. Bull. (1919) 22 69 (MED) Bi hir footemayde or seruaunt, with yiftes corrupt, she was disceived.
1853 Anglo-Amer. Mag. Feb. 220/2 I sent Mary, our foot-maid, to take care of him and two of his friends who called.
2013 L. Adlington Great War Fashion v. 66 Lady Randolph Churchill hit on the novel idea of transforming two maids into ‘footmaids’ once her footmen were at the front, dressing these women in swallow-tail coats and evening waistcoats.
foot maiden n. rare in later use a female attendant or foot servant; also figurative; cf. foot maid n.
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society > authority > subjection > service > servant > personal or domestic servant > attendant or personal servant > [noun] > female
thuftena1100
handmaidc1300
damselc1330
maid womanc1330
handmaidenc1350
handwomana1382
foot maid?a1475
foot maidenc1480
waiting-woman1565
waitressc1595
waiter1639
attendressa1661
c1480 (a1400) St. Mary Magdalen 203 in W. M. Metcalfe Legends Saints Sc. Dial. (1896) I. 262 & hir fut-madyne martilla.
a1500 Disciplina Clericalis in Western Reserve Univ. Bull. (1919) 22 56 (MED) The foote Maiden whiche wacchid for my lady was foryeteful.
1846 J. O. Halliwell Dict. Archaic & Provinc. Words I Foot-maiden, a waiting maid.
2013 Province (Vancouver, Brit. Colombia) (Nexis) 14 Nov. b12 McGovern says many times a doctor is just a footmaiden as nature heals itself.
foot-maker n. Glass-blowing (now historical) a second assistant in a ‘chair’ or team of glass-blowers.
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1824 Newcastle Courant 9 Oct. 1/1 (advt.) To Flint Glass-Makers. Wanted, for a Second Caster Place Chair, a Workman, Servitor and Foot Maker.
1881 Spons' Encycl. Industr. Arts III. 1069 Each chair is made up of a ‘workman’, a first assistant or ‘servitor’, a second assistant or ‘footmaker’, and one or more boys.
1908 Trades for London Boys 33 Work is carried on in groups, called ‘chairs’, consisting of three men (a foot-maker, a blower, and a maker) and a boy.
1996 G. Holmér in A.-M. Ericsson et al. Brilliance Swedish Glass, 1818–1939 vi. 91/1 The customary apprenticeship meant working as mold-holder, gatherer, servitor, and foot-maker.
† foot match n. Obsolete a running or walking race.
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society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > racing or race > racing on foot > [noun]
runningeOE
foot race1592
foot strife?1611
foot match1660
foot racing1698
stadium1749
1660 R. Stapleton in tr. Juvenal Mores Hominum 447 These [games] consisted of five Exercises; casting the Javelin, flinging the Iron-ball, leaping, wrestling, and running foot-matches and Chariot-races.
1764 Ann. Reg. 1763 Chron. 116/1 A foot-match was lately run on Mousl-hurst by a shepherd against time. He was to run fifteen miles in an hour and a half, and performed it in an hour and twenty-eight minutes.
1825 Asiatic Jrnl. & Monthly Reg. Feb. 146/2 By this time the gentry begin to get merry; and starting up, they commence wrestling and foot-matches.
1907 Lancet-Clinic 28 Sept. 320/1 The case of a young man of eighteen, who, running in a foot match, had a violent pain in the knee.
foot muff n. a muff into which the feet may be placed for warmth.
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the world > textiles and clothing > clothing > types or styles of clothing > footwear > shoe or boot > foot-muff > [noun]
foot muff1827
1827 Morning Post 9 May (advt.) Those individuals who suffer from Cold Feet in places of worship, amusement, or in the carriage, will find an effectual preventative by the use of the much approved Foot Muff.
1906 Westm. Gaz. 15 Mar. 4/2 A rug over his knees and his slippered feet in a foot-muff.
2010 Sunday Herald Sun (Melbourne) (Nexis) 14 Feb. 120 It's a good sturdy pram..and it comes with all the necessities—rain cover, foot muff, water bottle holder.
† foot nail n. Obsolete (apparently) a large strong nail.
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society > occupation and work > equipment > building and constructing equipment > fastenings > [noun] > nail > other nails
scotsem nail1273
scotnail1293
foot nail1406
seam1406
sharpling1415
grope1425
cannel-nail1566
boss-nail1697
common nail1698
cut nail1795
1406 in J. E. T. Rogers Hist. Agric. & Prices (1866) (modernized text) III. 446 Fotnail called spiking, 1 c../6.
foot odour n. the smell of a person's foot or feet, esp. the unpleasant smell caused by bacteria breaking down sweat.
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1867 Hall's Jrnl. Health Dec. 259 A tablespoonful of Chloride of lime in a basin of warm water is an excellent wash for removing foot odor.
1946 Liberty 1 June 85/2 (advt.) Say goodbye to clammy discomfort of sweaty stockings and offending foot odor.
2011 D. J. Bennett & R. C. Jennings Successful Sci. Communication xvii. 263 Researchers have discovered that silver nanoparticles used in socks to reduce foot odour are being released in the wash with possible negative consequences.
foot officer n. (a) an infantry officer or foot soldier (now historical); (b) a police officer who patrols on foot.
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society > armed hostility > warrior > soldier > leader or commander > officer or soldier of rank > [noun] > infantry officer
foot officer1633
1633 H. Hexham Iournall Anno 1632 38 (heading) The number of Foote Officers of all Nations slayne and hurt.
1704 Clarendon's Hist. Rebellion III. xvi. 547 [Monk] had the reputation of a very good Foot-Officer.
1860 A. Mordecai Mil. Comm. to Europe 1855 & 1856 158 in U.S. Congress. Serial Set (36th Congr., 1st Sess: Senate Executive Doc. 60) Infantry and other foot officers wear a light and slightly curved saber, with a leather scabbard.
1913 Suffrage Parade (U.S. Senate) (63rd Congr., 1st Sess.) II. 739 I saw a mounted police officer try..to get the crowd back... I also saw a foot officer working to put the crowd back.
2002 Press & Jrnl. (Aberdeen) (Nexis) 10 Dec. 6 We will be increasing the number of foot officers on police patrol in Oban, Lorn and Mull.
foot organ n. a musical instrument played with the feet, esp. by means of foot pedals; cf. foot bass n.
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society > leisure > the arts > music > musical instrument > keyboard instrument > stringed keyboards > [noun] > pianoforte > accessory bass
foot organ1802
1802 M. Cutler Jrnl. 15 Jan. in W. P. Cutler & J. P. Cutler Life, Jrnls. & Corr. M. Cutler (1888) II. 60 The foot organ is a prodigious addition to Forte-Pianos.
1937 S. P. Abelow Hist. Brooklyn Jewry ii. 62 The rabbi furnished a foot organ and the high holy day services were held that year for the first time in Manhattan Beach.
2008 Lowell (Mass.) Sun (Nexis) 4 Sept. Such musical instruments as drums, xylophones and foot organs.
† foot ornament n. Architecture Obsolete ornamentation at the top part of the base of a column, plinth, or similar structure.
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1844 T. Combe Illustr. Baptismal Fonts Launceston The shaft is octagonal with a spirally-fluted circular base, having foot ornaments at the angles of the plinth.
1848 J. H. Parker Rickman's Styles Archit. Eng. (ed. 5) 74 The pedestal on which the pier stands being always square, while the pier itself..is often round, an interval occurs at the angles which is frequently filled up with an ornament consisting most commonly of rude foliage, these are usually called foot ornaments.
1905 D. H. S. Cranage Archit. Acct. Churches of Shropshire II. vii. 584 A coarse Attic base with rough foot ornament at corners.
foot overbridge n. Indian English a footbridge.
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1883 Times 27 Feb. 1/3 (advt.) Class A.—Machine Tools, Wrought-iron Foot Overbridges.
1956 Times of India 1 June 3/5 The foot over-bridge across the railway lines in front of the Government of India offices on Queen's Road will be closed to pedestrians from the Queen's Road end.
2010 S. Mishra Capital Phenomenon viii. 129 Dikshit laid the foundation stone of a three level Grade Separator comprising a flyover, an underpass, a surface rotary and foot overbridges.
† footpack n. Obsolete a pack carried by a pedlar.
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society > trade and finance > selling > seller > [noun] > itinerant or pedlar > pedlar's pack
footpack1442
1442–3 in W. T. Barbour Hist. Contract in Early Eng. Equity (1914) 182 (MED) Pakked in fotepak and in hors pak.
1526 in H. A. Lee-Dillon Calais & Pale (1892) 80 Everye Jeweller carriing..any footepacke inwardes.
foot page n. now chiefly historical and rare a boy or youth employed as an attendant or foot servant; also figurative.
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society > authority > subjection > service > servant > personal or domestic servant > attendant or personal servant > [noun] > footman > boy
foot pagec1390
footboy1590
c1390 (?c1350) St. Augustine l. 745 in C. Horstmann Sammlung Altengl. Legenden (1878) 74 But voluptuosite eueneþ him to as a fot page.
1585 J. Higgins tr. Junius Nomenclator 519/1 A foot-page.
1630 Lamentable Ditty Little Mousgroue (single sheet) i./2 Then swiftly runnes the little Foot-Page, vnto his Lord with speed, Who then was feasting with his deare friends, not dreaming of this ill deede.
?1760 Good Housewife's Coat Arms (single sheet) For her attendance she call'd her foot-page, Saying, bring me my servants.
1814 W. Scott Waverley II. i. 20 Callum Beg, the sort of foot-page who used to attend his person. View more context for this quotation
1909 Outlook 25 Sept. 230/1 John Aubrey..knows his value as a kind of foot-page to the Muse of Biography.
1994 M. Ribowsky Don't look Back xx. 325 Three years of serving as the owners' footpage was enough for any good soldier.
foot pan n. (a) a pan in which the feet are bathed; cf. foot bath n. (b); †(b) a heated pan used as a foot warmer, esp. in railway carriages (obsolete).
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the world > physical sensation > cleanness and dirtiness > cleaning > washing > washing oneself or body > [noun] > washing the feet > vessel for washing feet
foot bath1561
foot pan1817
tosh-pan1881
the world > matter > properties of materials > temperature > heat > heating or making hot > that which or one who heats > [noun] > a device for heating or warming > devices for warming the person > the feet
foot stove1611
stove1716
chauffet1790
foot-warmer1812
foot pan1817
1817 York Herald 15 Nov. Wedgewood's [sic.] Dairy Ware, Foot Pans, &c.
1881 Eagle 11 304 Is it to be expected that I should warm my cold feet with bare imagination of a footpan?
1900 ‘D. Donovan’ Adventures Tyler Tatlock 13 I've pit a' your things in, sir, and there's a guid hot footpan for ye.
1994 Rev. Politics 56 134 Once king, he [sc. Amasis] had his golden footpan reshaped into a divinity that he compelled his subjects to worship.
foot passenger n. a person travelling on foot rather than on horseback or by vehicle; (now esp.) a ferry passenger not travelling with a vehicle.
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society > travel > aspects of travel > going on foot > [noun] > one going on foot
foota1225
footmana1382
walkerc1390
footera1425
ganger1424
trampler1580
foot folk1583
marcher1589
leg-stretcher1612
foot traveller1631
pedestrian1641
ambulator1652
foot walker1751
turnpiker1812
foot passenger1832
ped1863
voetganger1902
jaywalker1917
stepper1934
foot-slogger1956
1592 in J. D. Marwick Rec. Convent. Royal Burghs Scotl. (1870) I. 381 For vphauld of the samyn [brig]..ilk fit passinger fyve pennyis.
?1615 G. Chapman tr. Homer Odysses (new ed.) i. 266 I cannot think you a foot passenger.
1791 W. Gilpin Remarks Forest Scenery II. 128 This pleasing scenery can only be traversed by the foot-passenger.
1832 C. Babbage Econ. Machinery & Manuf. (ed. 2) iv. 34 When foot-passengers are knocked down by carriages.
1903 Daily Chron. 6 Nov. 3/3 On one side of it there will be a horse-ride, and on the other..a gravelled walk for foot passengers.
1986 Mirror 2 Jan. 23 Each foot passenger gets a free £5 voucher to spend on board at the Sealink duty-free supermarket.
2011 Back Roads Germany (Eyewitness Trav.) 151/2 Leave the car and cross the Rhine on ferry as a foot passenger.
foot patrol n. a patrol made on foot (as opposed to on horseback or by vehicle); (in early use) spec. †one made by foot soldiers (obsolete).
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the world > action or operation > safety > protection or defence > watching or keeping guard > [noun] > one who watches or keeps guard > one who patrols > body of
foot patrol1759
patrol watch1810
night patrol1814
1759 Public Advertiser 6 Mar. 1/2 There has been for sometime, and will be continued, a Horse and Foot Patrol, at different Avenues of the Town, to prevent Attacks of this Sort.
1888 N.-Y. Times 15 Mar. 2/2 We will make a change in the disposition of our force to-night at 7:30, the horse patrol being taken off, the men added to the foot patrol.
1986 Crime & Justice 8 369 The task force spent over 2,500 hours in the program area over the course of nine months. Seventy percent was devoted to foot patrol.
2010 S. Junger War i. iv. 55 They're providing overwatch for a foot patrol that has gone down-valley when rounds suddenly start smacking in all around them.
† foot peat n. Obsolete a piece of peat extracted by digging directly down into the ground using a spade; cf. breast-peat n. at breast n. Compounds 1c.
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1724 in D. G. Barron Court Bk. Urie (1892) 124 No tennent..shall cast foot-peatis in the hill of Glithno.
1802 C. Findlater Gen. View Agric. County of Peebles 208 As the digger stands upon the surface and presses in the peat-spade with his foot, such peat is designed foot-peat.
1892 D. G. Barron Court Bk. Urie 124 Foot peats are peats cast by the digger standing on the surface and pressing in the peat spade with his foot.
foot peg n. (chiefly in plural) a footrest on a motorcycle; cf. peg n.1 2j.
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1955 Amer. Motorcycling Feb. 19/1 This machine is completely equipped with..Western type handlebars, folding kickstarter pedal, folding foot pegs.
1993 Super Bike Jan. 15/2 Maybe the seat to footpeg relationship is a tad cramped.
2004 J. Denby Billie Morgan ix. 58 I swung my leg over the seat and scootched in behind him, fumbling to hook my stack heels on the back foot pegs he'd kicked down for me.
† foot pimp n. Obsolete rare a foot servant or attendant who acts as a pimp.
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society > morality > moral evil > licentiousness > unchastity > prostitution > [noun] > pimping or procuring > procurer of either sex > pimp
putourc1390
panderc1450
mitchera1500
apple-squire?1536
squire of dames or ladies1590
apron-squire1593
bed-broker1594
pimp1600
pippin squire1600
petticoat-monger1605
smockster1608
underputter1608
broker-between1609
squire of the placket1611
squire1612
fleshmongera1616
cock bawd1632
whiskin1632
pimp-whiskin1638
bully1675
foot pimp1690
mutton-broker1694
pimp whisk1707
flash-man1789
panderer1826
bludger1856
whoremaster1864
mack1894
lover1904
jelly bean1905
procureur1910
P.I.1928
sweetback1929
sweet man1942
nookie-bookie1943
papasan1970
1690 J. Dryden Amphitryon ii. i. 11 I, who am a God, am degraded to a foot Pimp.
foot plant n. (in skateboarding, BMX biking, etc.) any of various tricks involving a foot being placed on the ramp, ground, etc., during a manoeuvre.
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1983 Evening Sun (Hanover, Pa.) 17 Sept. (Carroll County ed.) 1/1 Question: What is a ‘switch stance fakie foot plant’?.. A skateboarding trick.
2002 J. Weyland Answer is Never ix. 129 Darrell Miller was pioneering footplants, in which the skater took one foot off and planted it on the top of the bowl while holding the board to the other foot before jumping back in.
2013 P. G. Cain BMX Street iii. 20 A foot plant is a great way for a rider to turn the bike around and perform a cool trick at the same time.
foot plough n. (a) a type of swing plough (now chiefly historical and rare); (b) an implement resembling a narrow pointed pick and used like a spade with the foot to break up stiff ground; cf. caschrom n.
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the world > food and drink > farming > tools and implements > ploughing equipment > [noun] > plough > foot-plough
foot plough1625
swing plough1733
overtread plougha1843
over-treading plough1893
1625 S. Purchas Pilgrimes II. ix. vi. 1469 They till their ground with Oxen, and foot-Ploughs.
1677 R. Plot Nat. Hist. Oxford-shire 247 There are two sorts used in Oxfordshire, the Foot, and Wheel-plough; whereof the first is used in deep and Clay Lands, being accordingly fitted with a broad fin share.
1733 W. Ellis Chiltern & Vale Farming 322 The Foot-plough, is so called from a Piece of Wood, or Iron made somewhat like our Foot.
1789 Suffolk Inventory in Notes & Queries (1947) 27 Dec. 560/1 A foott plow, 2 harrows.
1836 Penny Cycl. V. 307 In Brabant..They use the excellent Flemish swing plough, which they call a foot plough, as it is also called in some parts of England, in contradistinction to a wheel plough. At the same time they also retain the old and heavy turn wrest plough.
1888 Asiatic Q. Rev. Jan. 451 The foot-plough, caschroom, of the Hebrides..is probably the simplest plough now known.
2003 Times 12 July (Weekend) 7/3 An old tool called a ‘tramp-pick’, a hooked implement looking like an old foot plough.
† foot poet n. Obsolete rare (a) a poet who goes about on land; (b) a poet who is the foot-servant or lackey of another.In quot. 1641 by humorous analogy with water poet (see water poet n. (a) at water n. Compounds 7).
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society > leisure > the arts > literature > poetry > poet > [noun] > minor poet or poetaster
rhymera1500
versifier1531
rhythmer1577
rhymester1593
poetizer1599
jingler1600
penny poet1600
poetaster1601
verser?1611
versemonger1634
poetitoa1637
foot poet1641
verseman1652
sonneteer1667
tinkler1689
verse-wright1729
rhymist1763
bardling1813
coupleteer1818
verse-smith1820
poetling1830
versicler1860
bardlet1867
poeticule1872
poetast1892
1641 G. Richardson Irish Footman's Poetry 9 To encounter, if you dare, With a foote-Poet, enter in the sand.
1697 J. Dryden Ded. Æneis in tr. Virgil Wks. sig. e3 Our Italian Translatour..is a Foot-Poet, he Lacquies by the side of Virgil at the best, but never mounts behind him.
foot-pound-second adj. designating a system of units having the foot, pound, and second as its fundamental units of length, force, and time respectively.
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the world > relative properties > measurement > [noun] > a system or standard of measuring > other spec.
international1857
International System1864
centimetre-gram-second1875
foot-pound-second1877
DIN1932
SI1961
imperial1970
1877 R. Wormell Thermodynamics i. 3 In the foot-pound-second system of units, therefore, the weight of a pound is 32.2.
1947 Berkshire Evening Eagle (Pittsfield, Mass.) 18 Dec. 20/3 Every law of the United States which has to do with weights or measures expresses values in the more adaptable ‘foot-pound-second’ system.
2002 S. Gibilisco Physics Demystified vi. 147 The foot-pound-second (fps) system, also called the English system, is rarely used by scientists but is popular among nonscientists.
foot power n. power generated by the feet; frequently attributive designating a foot-powered machine.
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1831 Jrnl. Franklin Inst. June 381 The application of the foot power..relieves the arms and chest in the act of churning.
1874 Sci. Amer. 18 Apr. 251/1 What is the best speed for a foot power circular saw?
1954 M. E. Pritchard Short Dict. Weaving 53 These are a series of wooden laths, or sticks, pivoted from the back, front or side of foot-power looms.
2015 Pretoria (S. Afr.) News (Nexis) 18 Mar. 8 The original source of energy for primitive mankind was hand and foot power.
foot-powered adj. powered by means of the foot or feet, esp. using a treadle or foot pedal.
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1919 Emmetsburg (Iowa) Democrat 11 June 8/5 (advt.) You Can Buy a Western Electric Portable Sewing Machine for $39.40. This is a complete machine with..an Electric Motor..which eliminates the hard work—pedaling—which goes with the old style foot powered machines.
1929 Youth's Compan. Aug. 460/2 A foot-powered jig-saw or motor-driven fret-saw makes the work of cutting out an easy task.
2008 T. Dean Human-powered Home 21/2 The foot-powered machines include both treadle and pedal-powered devices.
foot process n. (a) Zoology a projecting body part, esp. one used for locomotion, esp. a parapodium or pseudopodium (now rare); (b) Histology (in a renal podocyte) any of the cytoplasmic processes that cover the outer surface of a capillary.
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1841 A. Pritchard Hist. Infusoria 395 The genera are disposed as follow:—..proboscis and foot processes present... Callidina.
1897 C. Annandale Pop. Encycl. 227 The body in the Annelida is provided with bristles or setae, which are usually attached to the lateral surfaces of each segment, the bristles being borne on ‘foot-processes’ or parapodia.
1955 Amer. Jrnl. Med. 18 268/1 These foot processes..are applied to all external surfaces of the capillaries and it is between these foot processes that simple filtration probably occurs.
1994 L. G. Reimer et al. in K. D. McClatchey Clin. Lab. Med. iv. 1408/1 Motility of amebae is accomplished by the extrusion of cytoplasmic foot processes or pseudopods.
2003 New Scientist 6 Dec. 82/2 (advt.) To undertake research investigating the pathophysiology of proteinuria, specifically the mechanisms underlying podocyte foot process effacement in proteinuric disease.
foot-propelled adj. (of a vehicle) propelled by use of the foot or feet; (also, of a machine) foot-powered.
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1869 J. L. Nevius China & Chinese ii. 33 It is called by the natives Kyiah-wo-jun—‘Foot-propelled boat’... The boatman..propels his little craft in a very peculiar way with a foot-oar.
1929 Pop. Sci. Monthly Mar. 144/2 Many..remember seeing him at work in the summer of 1902 on a foot-propelled sewing machine.
2009 Age (Melbourne) (Nexis) 28 Aug. 1 For skateboarders or those who ride a foot-propelled scooter, there are changes.
foot race n. a running race.
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society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > racing or race > racing on foot > [noun]
runningeOE
foot race1592
foot strife?1611
foot match1660
foot racing1698
stadium1749
1592 H. Broughton Apol. in Briefe Assertions sig. Hv The Stadion or foote race was the first: whence of late men tooke their accompt.
1663 S. Pepys Diary 30 July (1971) IV. 255 The great foot race run this day on Banstead downes.
1728 Stamford Mercury 4 Apr. 109 A Foot-Race was run for ten Guineas a Side, from Tyburn Turnpike to Acton and back again..between two Running-Footmen.
1849 T. B. Macaulay Hist. Eng. I. 252 He..won footraces in his boots against fleet runners in shoes.
1992 Sci. Amer. Aug. 16/1 Philippa Marrack and John Kappler pace off 100 yards for a foot-race.
foot racing n. the action or sport of running in a running race.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > racing or race > racing on foot > [noun]
runningeOE
foot race1592
foot strife?1611
foot match1660
foot racing1698
stadium1749
1698 J. Fryer New Acct. E.-India & Persia Contents p. xii/2 Their Religious Feasts. Foot-Racing. Their Valour, whence it proceeds. Their Urbanity.
1741 J. Ozell tr. J. Pitton de Tournefort Voy. Levant (new ed.) I. ii. 90 The other Exercises of the Body, Dancing, Hunting, Foot-Racing, Riding, they excell'd in.
1801 J. Strutt Glig-gamena Angel-ðeod ii. ii. 70 Foot-racing was considered an essential part of a young man's education.
1906 Westm. Gaz. 3 May 10/2 When the foot-racing events were resumed in the Stadium, the cleanly built American Archie Haha ran a great race.
2014 D. F. Town Hot Foot iv. 46 Interest in foot racing ebbed and flowed in the 1830's as rumours of cheating came and went.
footrest n. something used as a support or rest for the foot or feet, esp. when sitting.
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the world > space > relative position > support > [noun] > that which supports > foothold or support for the foot > specific
footboard1598
foot stay1658
footing1725
foot raila1749
footrest1833
step1860
society > inhabiting and dwelling > inhabited place > a building > furniture and fittings > support or rest > [noun] > for feet
shamblec825
stoola1250
benchc1405
buffet1432
foot cushiona1475
footstool1530
cricket1559
grest1563
foot stock1567
hassock1582
cracket1635
crock1709
tuffet1805
mora1818
footrest1833
toe-board1892
1833 Morning Post 1 June 7/4 (advt.) A gentle pressure on the foot-rest will enable the person gradually to recline or to bring himself forward in any position.
1861 A. Beresford-Hope Eng. Cathedral of 19th Cent. 148 Only three of the ranges were really sittings, the remainder having served as steps and footrests.
1921 Pop. Mech. Nov. 872/1 Footrests near the end of each pontoon serve as braces in rowing and shooting.
1956 Boys' Life Mar. 34/2 The slanted bar represents the wooden foot rest on Christ's cross.
2007 Esquire Feb. 78/4 The seat, handlebars, gearshift, brake levers and even footrests can be adjusted to rider specifications.
foot rim n. the rim on the base of a plate, vase, etc.; = foot ring n. (b).
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society > occupation and work > equipment > receptacle or container > vessel > [noun] > rim > rim on base of vessel
foot ring1704
foot rim1878
1878 A. W. Franks Catal. Coll. Oriental Pottery (ed. 2) 142 The foot rim of each piece had a nick cut out of it in the Corean fashion.
1960 Brit. Museum Q. 22 94 A silver ewer..has a pear-shaped body on a low broad footrim.
2003 M. F. Moran & S. Andacht Oriental Antiques & Art (ed. 2) 110/1 The body rests on a glazed, straight foot rim.
foot ring n. (a) = ankle ring n. at ankle n. Compounds 2; (b) the circular rim on the base of a plate, vase, etc.
ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > equipment > receptacle or container > vessel > [noun] > rim > rim on base of vessel
foot ring1704
foot rim1878
1704 tr. P. Baldæus True Descr. Malabar & Coromandel in A. Churchill & J. Churchill Coll. Voy. III. 841/1 Patragali then gave her Golden Foot-rings[Ger. die guldene Fusringe] to her Husband to sell them, who departed accordingly.
1789 T. Holcroft tr. Life Baron Trenck (ed. 2) II. 83 The cap, or staple, of the foot-ring was made so wide that I could draw it forward a quarter of an inch.
1873 J. Martin tr. F. Delitzsch Biblical Comm. Prophecies Isaiah I. i. i. 143 They could only take short steps, because of the chains by which the costly foot-rings (achâsim) worn above their ankles were connected together.
1927 J. P. Vogel in J. H. Marshall et al. Bagh Caves 57 Necklaces of large beads or pearls alternating with blue stones, bracelets, and foot-rings round the ankles.
1937 Proc. Prehistoric Soc. 3 52 A large vessel with slightly raised base and foot-ring.
2000 R. D. Mowry in L. E. Rotondo-McCord & R. D. Mowry Heaven & Earth seen Within 19 The dish could be fully glazed, including the bottom of its foot ring.
foot room n. †(a) space in which to walk or move (obsolete); (b) room for a person's feet, esp. in front of a seat in a vehicle or other confined space.
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > [noun] > sufficient space or room > room to live, move, or work > to move the feet
foot room1637
1637 P. Vincent True Relation Late Battell 14 This Fort was so crowded with these numerous dwellings, that the English wanted foote-roome to graple with their adversaries.
1688 G. Miege Great French Dict. ii. sig. Z2v/3 Foot-room, la place que prend le Pié.
1776 W. J. Mickle tr. L. de Camoens Lusiad 126 The mountain and the wide-spread lawn Afford no foot-room for the crowded foe.
1843 Eng. Jrnl. Educ. Jan. 5 The seats vary in height and breadth, and foot-room.
1852 Househ. Words 29 May 254/2 We give them footroom, to be sure, but little more.
1891 Hub Oct. 343/1 The size of the body [of the cabriolet] admits of large seating and foot room.
1922 Poultry Item Mar. 49/1 Fowls are native to the open fields. Give them foot room if you desire them to do the best.
1969 C. Casewit Hiking-Climbing Handbk. ii. 27 Mummy bags, tapered at the foot, are popular, but they do cut down foot room.
2009 Express (Nexis) 14 Mar. 80 The only drawback is that those in the rear seats are short on footroom when the front seats are in their lowest position.
foot rub n. a rub or massage of the foot or feet.
ΚΠ
1921 C. I. Judson Mary Jane in New Eng. 152 We always carry towels in the back of the car for a good foot rub afterward.
1978 Globe & Mail (Canada) (Nexis) 21 Sept. The pedicure..did not include a good foot rub.
2002 Daily Tel. 5 Mar. 18/2 During London Fashion Week, when the going got tough, the tough slipped off their Jimmy Choos and got a foot rub.
foot-rule n. now rare a ruler capable of measuring lengths of up to one foot; (figurative) a standard against which something is compared.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > endeavour > trial or experiment > trial, test, or testing > [noun] > criterion
rulec1384
meteyard?1531
touchstone?1531
plumb line1551
plummet1553
metewanda1568
touch1581
stone of touch1604
criterion1622
scale1626
criteriuma1631
measure1641
judge1642
criterie1660
foot-rule1662
mark1765
point of reference1772
metera1825
reference point1849
yardstick1869
benchmark1884
the world > relative properties > measurement > measuring instrument > [noun] > for measuring length > graduated strip of wood, etc.
rule1340
ruler1530
measure1555
scale1607
foot-rule1662
two-foot rule1664
joint-rule1680
inch-rule1850
inch-measure1851
stationer's rule1866
contraction-rule1874
measure-strip1887
1662 J. Brown Triangular Quadrant 3 A Line of 360 degrees, divided so as to serve for 360 degrees of 12 Signs; and 24 hours, (and in foot and 2 foot rules for inches also.)
1822 M. Edgeworth Frank: Sequel II. 136 Frank said he could measure the height..by a foot rule which his mother had given to him.
1908 Westm. Gaz. 9 June 1/2 It was Mr. Chamberlain who had pointed to exports as a foot-rule with which he wanted us to measure up our trade as a whole.
1992 Times Lit. Suppl. 10 July 9/1 The King actually enjoyed the restrictions of wartime, and went round Buckingham Palace marking out the five-inch limit on the baths with a foot-rule.
† foot rut n. Obsolete rare = plough foot n.
ΘΚΠ
the world > food and drink > farming > tools and implements > ploughing equipment > [noun] > plough > foot-plough > part of
plough foota1325
foot rut1846
1846 Jrnl. Royal Agric. Soc. 7 i. 72 At the head of the plough is a foot rut, made of wood, and a wide piece of wood on the end, to prevent the plough going deep.
foot scent n. Hunting the scent of an animal's tracks as followed by a hound or hunter.
ΘΚΠ
the world > food and drink > hunting > thing hunted or game > [noun] > scent
scentc1422
suit1579
foot scent1735
1735 Polit. State Great Brit. May 470 The Huntsman took four Couple of Hounds, cherished them, with the Huntsman's Halloo, and endeavoured to put them on the Foot Scent of the Rogues.
1875 ‘Stonehenge’ Man. Brit. Rural Sports (ed. 12) i. i. iv. §4. 80 A good setter..generally makes out a foot-scent better than a pointer.
1990 L. Mueller Speed train your Bird Dog ii. xvii. 212 This is also a handy command in case a less-than-animated short ranger starts pottering on foot scent.
foot scraper n. (a) an implement consisting of a blunt horizontal blade used for scraping mud from the soles of shoes, boots, etc., and typically fixed near the outside door of a house; = scraper n. 5; (b) a file used to remove hard or dead skin from the sole of the foot or feet.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > cleanness and dirtiness > cleaning > cleaning shoes > [noun] > mats and scrapers
doormat1665
scraper1745
mud-scraper1788
bear1795
foot scraper1796
mata1818
shoe-scraper1842
scraper-mat1884
1796 J. Ebers New & Compl. Dict. German & Eng. Lang. I. 991/2 Einen Fußkratzer machen, to make a Foot-Scraper.
1872 Harper's Mag. Mar. 547/2 Foot-scrapers and mats were doubled at all the approaches.
1938 J. Steinbeck Long Valley 115 On the front and back porches foot-scrapers and cocoa-fibre mats kept dirt out of the house.
1995 F. R. Shivers Walking in Baltimore 147 Be sure to look at..19 Barre Street, with its iron foot scraper shaped like a lyre.
2014 Daily Mail (Nexis) 14 Jan. Ease hard skin by rubbing it with sandpaper-based foot files or metal foot scrapers.
foot screw n. (a) an instrument of torture used to compress a person's foot; cf. screw n.1 7 (historical); (b) one of several small supporting feet screwed into the base of an object, implement, etc., which can be adjusted to alter its level.
ΚΠ
1738 E. A. Burgis Ann. Church III. 418 The finger and foot-screw, the press, the nose-pincer, the ear and lip-borers, and other instruments made to lop-off and mangle our members.
1773 J. Ramsden Descr. New Universal Equatoreal 4 Set the bubble right (if it be wrong) by the foot screw at the end of the Level.
1842 Penny Cycl. XXIV. 315/2 By touching the foot-screws of the tripod or theodolite set the level-bubbles in the middle.
1850 A. Webb Martyrs Carthage I. xii. 276 ‘I am weary of listening to such impiety;..bring hither the foot-screw.’.. The engine of torture was laid on the table.
1994 N. N. Basak Surv. & Levelling 265 Before starting the levelling operation, all the foot screws are brought to the centre of their run.
2005 G. Brock tr. U. Eco Mysterious Flame Queen Loana vi. 108 Various types of tortures: boiling,..fire,..the gridiron,..foot screws, [etc.].
† foot seam n. [ < seam n.3] Obsolete rare the fat which collects on the surface of water used to boil cows' feet.
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society > occupation and work > materials > derived or manufactured material > greasy or fatty material > [noun] > derived from animals > other animal grease
wool-oil1545
foot seam1584
marrowfat1717
bone fat1791
lanolin1885
lard stearin1885
1584 T. Cogan Hauen of Health cliv. 130 The fatte which is left uppon the water of the seething of Netes feete, called commonly foote seame.
† foot seine n. Fishing Obsolete a type of seine or dragnet which is cast from a boat starting out from the shore and then hauled in on land; = scringe n.
ΘΚΠ
the world > food and drink > hunting > fishing > fishing-tackle > net > [noun] > seine-net > part of
foot seine1838
purse ring1870
1838 Mem. Wernerian Nat. Hist. Soc. 7 220 On Tuesday evening, in the month of August, upwards of ten thousand of these fish were taken by a foot sean near Marazion.
1874 E. W. H. Holdsworth Deep-sea Fishing iv. 157 Seans [sweep-nets] may be divided into three classes, namely, the sean proper..the ‘tuck-sean’, and the ‘ground or foot-sean’.
1895 ‘J. Bickerdyke’ in ‘J. Bickerdyke’ et al. Sea Fishing (Badminton Libr. of Sports & Pastimes) 282 There are broadly speaking, three descriptions of seine nets: (1) the common or deep-water seine, (2) the tuck seine, and (3) the ground seine, foot seine, or scringe.
† foot set n. Obsolete a cutting or young plant, esp. one of several used to form a foot hedge; = foot hedge n.
ΘΚΠ
the world > food and drink > farming > hedging > [noun] > types of hedge
foot set1601
foot hedge1701
1601 P. Holland tr. Pliny Hist. World I. 510 This was at first practised with foot-sets for a prick-hedge.
1613 A. Standish New Direct. 11 These yong roots would be set as a foot-set of thornes within a foote of the pale, so as the thornes may hang ouer them.
1733 Pract. Husbandman & Planter I. 110 You must Head them about a Foot from the Stem, if from Foot Sets.
1798 Trans. Soc. Encouragem. Arts, Manuf., & Commerce 16 138 I planted it [sc. a willow] last year, in footsets, for the use of basket-makers; but as the experiment is now only in process, I can say nothing of its utility.
1854 A. E. Baker Gloss. Northants. Words I. 250 Foot-hedge..called in some parts of the county a foot-set; but in the locality where foot-hedge is adopted, a foot-set is described as two rows of quick, planted about a foot asunder on a slope.
1915 A. H. Haines & A. F. Hood Daniel Surv. & Building Constr. 27 A footset hedge is a hedge without a ditch which divides two properties.
foot servant n. an attendant or footman; (also) an unquestioning or servile follower.
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society > communication > indication > insignia > heraldic devices collective > heraldry > herald > [noun] > foot-messenger or servant
foot servant1668
foot messenger1678
1668 Bp. J. Wilkins Ess. Real Char. sig. Iii4 Lacky, foot-servant.
1688 R. Holme Acad. Armory iii. 60/1 Foot Messengers of Arms, are such Foot Servants, as are imployed by the Heralds of Arms.
1790 J. Bruce Trav. Source Nile III. vii. 174 Is it like peaceable people..to come mounted on horseback and armed as you are? Would not your mules and your foot-servants have been as proper?
1840 Suppl. Courant (Hartford, Connecticut) 24 Oct. 173/3 Boat women, house maids and foot servants.
1864 Continental Monthly Aug. 222 The party politician, for example, is just as fully bound by the will of others as a coachman or foot servant.
1996 Amer. Cowboy May 39/2 Federal land agency managers are the footservants of these Eastern interests.
2012 Age (Melbourne) (Nexis) 3 July 9 For the majority of Indian women, the reality is that their function in life is as housekeepers, mothers or foot servants to in-laws.
† foot sheet n. Obsolete (historical and rare in later use) a sheet spread out for a person to stand (or sit) on while dressing or undressing; (also) a narrow sheet spread across the foot of a bed.
ΘΚΠ
society > inhabiting and dwelling > inhabited place > a building > furniture and fittings > floor-covering > [noun] > for use when (un)dressing
foot sheeta1475
a1475 J. Shirley Death James (BL Add. 5467) in Miscellanea Scotica (1818) II. 15 The Kyng that same tyme ther stondying in his nyght gowne..upon the forme, and the foote sheet.
a1475 Bk. Curtasye (Sloane 1986) l. 488 in Babees Bk. (2002) i. 315 Þo lorde schalle skyft hys gown at nyȝt, Syttand on foteshete tyl he be dyȝt.
in Coll. Ordinances Royal Househ. (Harl. 642) (1790) 120 All this season the Kinge shall sitt still in his footesheete.
1597 T. Dawson 2nd Pt. Good Hus-wiues Iewell sig. B8 At morne when your soueraine will arise, warme his shirt by the fire, and see yee haue a foote sheet made.
1877 T. Dickson Acct. Lord High Treasurer Sc. I. 416/1 Fute schete, the head sheet and foot sheet were narrow sheets spread across the head and foot of a bed respectively.
foot slope n. a lower slope of a hillside.
ΘΚΠ
the world > the earth > land > landscape > high land > slope > [noun] > foothill
foot slope1820
underfall1857
1820 J. Flint Let. 9 Nov. in Lett. from Amer. (1822) xxiv. 294 The ascent of the northern bank, is performed by climbing the steep foot-slope by a rugged path that winds amongst large stones.
1894 J. Geikie Great Ice Age (ed. 3) xxix. 437 The ice radiated outwards..to the foot-slopes of the hills of Middle Germany.
2008 S. Armitage Gig (2009) 163 The more interesting areas, perversely enough, are the suburbs, consisting of colourful wooden houses dotted around the hills and foot-slopes.
foot spa n. a spa bath for the feet.
ΚΠ
1976 Tucson (Arizona) Daily Citizen 27 July 13/2 Jacuzzi's line, for instance, extends from a ‘portable foot spa’ to a whirlpool attachment for the bathtub.
2002 K. Bowman & L. Ryan Twins 47 Soak your feet in a bath or a foot spa then rub peppermint lotion into your feet.
foot space rail n. Nautical (now historical and rare) a rail at the base of a balcony at the stern of a ship.
ΚΠ
1781 M. Stalkartt Naval Archit. Dict. 218 Footrail, or Footspace-rail, the rail of the balcony that is wrought on the deck.
1822 J. Fincham Direct. Laying off Ships 101 Where the outside of the stool rail cuts the aft side of the foot space rail.
1867 W. H. Smyth & E. Belcher Sailor's Word-bk. Foot-space-rail, the rail that terminates the foot of the balcony, in which the balusters step, if there be no pedestal rail.
1986 D. H. Roberts tr. J. Boudriot Seventy-four Gun Ship II. viii. iii. 51 The upper counter rail also returns forward as the lower rim rail, as does the footspace rail of the stern-gallery.
foot spade n. originally Scottish (now somewhat rare) a spade pressed into the ground with the foot.
ΚΠ
1489 in Acts Lords of Council Civil Causes (1839) I. 106/2 A fute spaid and a schoil.
1671 Forbes Baron Court Bk. in Publ. Sc. Hist. Soc. (1919) 2nd Ser. 19 285 Who hes castin eather vith foot spad or flachter spad.
1703 M. Martin Descr. W. Islands Scotl. 286 They fell to labour the Ground with the Foot-spade.
1814 J. Grant Thoughts Origin & Descent Gael 284 The labour must have been performed by men with a kind of foot spade.
1901 New Ireland Rev. Aug. 336 A mere surface of weathered and disintegrated rock,..hardly to be penetrated with the ordinary ‘loy’ or foot spade.
1974 Amer. Ethnol. 1 387 The Campa use for this purpose [sc. turning over soil] a curious implement, a ‘foot-spade’ consisting of a spade-shaped piece of hard palmwood to which a wooden foot-rest was lashed.
foot spoor n. now somewhat rare the track or trail left by the feet of a person or animal.
ΚΠ
1895 Alpine Jrnl. Feb. 352 They..found a large cairn of stones, and near to it some recent footsteps. ‘A bear's foot spoor’, said the knowing ones.
1919 Munsey's Mag. Aug. 508/2 How long do you suppose the best tracker on earth can read a foot-spoor?
2008 Star (S. Afr.) (Nexis) 7 July 1 ‘We picked up blood trails and foot spoors’, said Myburgh, whose security company was helping police hunt for the armed robbers.
† foot spore n. (also fosper) Obsolete the track or trail left by the feet of an animal.
ΘΚΠ
society > communication > indication > marking > a mark > trace or vestige > [noun] > left by the passage of something > of a person or animal > track of footprints > footprint
trod946
lastOE
foot sporeOE
tread?c1225
stepc1290
footstepa1300
solec1325
tracta1547
footprint1552
traces1552
footing1563
foot track1600
accub1623
vestigating1634
vestige1656
seal1686
sign1692
footmark1756
stabble1863
pelmatogram1890
paw print1894
OE Prose Charm: Against Theft (Corpus Cambr. 190) in G. Storms Anglo-Saxon Magic (1948) 202 Gif hit sy oðer feoh [sc. other than a horse], sing on þæt fotspor.
1481 W. Caxton tr. Hist. Reynard Fox (1970) 37 Where his footspore stood, there stryked he with his tayl.
1570 P. Levens Manipulus Vocabulorum sig. Fiiiv/2 A Fosper, vestigium.
foot stake n. †(a) an upright support for something (obsolete); †(b) = footstalk n. 1 (obsolete); (c) any stake at the bottom or end of something (somewhat rare).
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > relative position > low position > [noun] > condition of being placed under > that which lies under > base on which a thing rests > pedestal
footstoneOE
foot stakea1382
basec1450
pedestal1563
footpath1580
footstall1585
basisa1616
postament1738
footstalk1787
a1382 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Bodl. 959) (1959) Exod. xxxvi. 24 Two fotestakis vnder o table weren putt, at eyþer party of þe corners.
1678 tr. M. Charas Royal Pharmacopœa ii. i. xx. 145 They have a little footstake which fastens them to a rib like the bunch of a Grape.
1839 Gardener's Mag. Oct. 546 The cords alone, made fast to very short foot-stakes, would have been equally effective.
1865 T. E. Fuller Boy's Holiday Bk. 215 A stake called the foot-stake is driven in, say ten feet from the boundary which forms the base of operation.
2011 U.S. Fed News (Nexis) 29 Mar. A foot stake is connected to the bottom of the post and can be alternatively positioned in the ground or in a support base.
† foot stay n. Obsolete rare a support or prop for the feet; in quot. spec. one attached to the cross on which Jesus was crucified.
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > relative position > support > [noun] > that which supports > foothold or support for the foot > specific
footboard1598
foot stay1658
footing1725
foot raila1749
footrest1833
step1860
1658 Sir T. Browne Garden of Cyrus i, in Hydriotaphia: Urne-buriall 96 The Crosse of our blessed Saviour..having in some descriptions an Empedon or crossing foot-stay.
foot-stick n. Printing a bevelled stick put at the bottom of pages in a forme so as to secure them.
ΘΚΠ
society > communication > printing > composing equipment > [noun] > furniture surrounding matter in chase > specific
quoin1570
reglet1636
foot-stick1683
side stick1683
clump1875
galley-stick1888
1683 J. Moxon Mech. Exercises II. 29 The Foot-sticks [are placed] against the foot or bottom of the Page.
1755 J. Smith Printer's Gram. x. 270 Gently drive the Quoins along the Side-sticks at first, and then those along the Foot-sticks.
1808 C. Stower Printer's Gram. 203 Having dressed the inside of our pages, we proceed to do the same to their outsides, by putting side sticks and foot sticks to them.
1888 C. T. Jacobi Printers' Vocab. 46 Footstick, a bevelled stick put at the bottom of a page or pages to quoin up against.
1982 P. W. M. Blayney Texts King Lear 530 Each [stage direction] was set in a marginal column of quotation quads..extending from head-stick to foot-stick and vertically justified.
2013 J. Mosley in M. F. Suarez & H. R. Woudhuysen Book xi. 137 Wooden quoins or wedges were driven against long wedge-shaped sidesticks or footsticks to hold pages and furniture together.
foot-stomping n. and adj. (a) n. the stamping of feet; (b) adj. characterized by or involving the stamping of feet; (also) designating a strong musical beat to which one might stamp one's foot, or a piece of music having such a beat; cf. foot-tapping adj.
ΚΠ
1914 Boys' Life May 8/3 The foot-stomping in that section had stilled to a mere tap-tap, that all might hear the cries of a single fan.
1934 Chicago Defender 1 Sept. 6/6 The then not free people enjoyed the hip-shaking, foot-stomping, high jumping release of their emotions.
1946 Billboard 27 Apr. 124/3 Quartet blend the hymns acceptably and incorporate the foot-stomping beat.
1995 L. Garrett Coming Plague (new ed.) xiv. 471 What began as a polite reception swelled into nearly hysterical cheering, chanting, shouting, and foot-stomping.
2010 New Yorker 31 May 6/2 The iconic guitarist and singer-songwriter..brings foot-stomping tunes from his new album, ‘Word to the Wise’, to Joe's Pub.
foot stove n. now chiefly historical a small portable stove used to warm the feet.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > properties of materials > temperature > heat > heating or making hot > that which or one who heats > [noun] > a device for heating or warming > devices for warming the person > the feet
foot stove1611
stove1716
chauffet1790
foot-warmer1812
foot pan1817
1611 R. Cotgrave Dict. French & Eng. Tongues sig. Qivv/2 Chauffe-pied, a foot-stoue; a little and low stoue that serues to keepe the feet warme.
1752 tr. E. F. Gersaint Catal. Etchings Rembrandt 167 She sits on a carved Seat, and her right Foot is on a Foot-Stove, to which the Dutch Women are so accustomed, that even in Summer they use them without Fire.
1818 Art of preserving Feet 152 Our English travellers..should always be on their guard against the use of feet-stoves.
1882 W. D. Howells in Longman's Mag. Nov. 46 The foot-stove which one of his congregation..carried to meeting, and warmed his poor feet with.
1963 Connecticut Hist. Soc. Apr. 43 He used to have a foot stove carried to his pew while attending service in the wintertime.
2014 Evening Standard (Nexis) 8 Oct. 22 Foot stoves, often fired by turf, helped to combat the cold and damp.
† foot strife n. Obsolete rare (archaic in later use) the action of striving or contending in running.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > racing or race > racing on foot > [noun]
runningeOE
foot race1592
foot strife?1611
foot match1660
foot racing1698
stadium1749
?1611 G. Chapman tr. Homer Iliads xxiii. 689 For not our greatest flourisher can equal him in pow'r Of foot-strife, but Æacides.
1876 W. Morris tr. Virgil Æneids xii. 379 No foot-strife but the armed hand must doom betwixt us twain.
foot strike n. (a) an instance of the foot hitting the ground when walking or (esp.) running; the way in which the foot lands, esp. as a feature of a person's running technique; (b) a blow delivered with the foot; a kick.
ΚΠ
1967 Galveston (Texas) News 5 Mar. 3 b/4 Each foot strike is but a fraction of a second.
1971 Black Belt Nov. 46/2 Keep the muzzle pointed away from you, while using knee or foot strikes against the man on the other side of the weapon.
1977 B. J. Sharkey Fitness & Work Capacity iv. 52/2 No aspect of running technique is violated more often by neophytes than the footstrike.
2004 D. Cheng Jeet Kune Do Basics 102 The initial foot strike can also be a feint or false attack to set up your opponent for the finishing hand strike.
2012 Self (Nexis) Oct. 144 Exhale through your mouth on your third foot strike. You'll naturally fall into a rhythm of inhaling and exhaling every two steps.
foot stroke n. †(a) a line or serif forming the lower part or bottom of a letter (obsolete); (b) a stroke of the foot or feet, esp. in running or swimming.
ΘΚΠ
society > communication > writing > handwriting or style of > formation of letters > [noun] > stroke
linea1382
tittlec1384
stroke1567
minim1587
pot-hook1611
dash1615
hair-stroke1634
hook1668
foot stroke1676
stem1676
duct1699
hanger1738
downstroke?1760
hairline1846
up-stroke1848
skit1860
pot-crook1882
ligature1883
coupling-stroke1906
bow1914
ductus1922
ascender1934
society > communication > printing > printed matter > printed character(s) > [noun] > bottom or footing
footing1676
foot line1676
foot stroke1676
base1827
1676 J. Moxon Regulæ Trium Ordinum 23 F..Is made like E, onely instead of the Foot-stroke here is onely a Footing.
1855 Jrnl. Asiatic Soc. Bengal 1854 23 58 The foot strokes of the Arian letters..ally them to those on the coins of ‘Pakores’.
1879 A. W. Tourgeé Fool's Errand (1880) xiii. 66 Faster and faster came the footstrokes of the maddened filly.
1884 G. Stephens Old-Northern Runic Monuments III. 457 Several of the letters have decorative feet or foot-strokes.
1920 T. A. Coward Birds Brit. Isles 2nd Ser. 317 On the surface..the foot strokes are alternate, but under water it [sc. the Little Grebe] progresses in a series of rapid jerks.
2010 Caledon (Ontario) Enterprise (Nexis) 6 Apr. 1 When swimming, Woodies [sc. wood ducks] have the habit of bobbing their heads with each foot stroke.
foot stump n. (a) the stump of a partially amputated foot; (b) Zoology a parapodium (cf. foot tubercle n. (a)).
ΚΠ
1846 London Med. Gaz. 25 Dec. 1097/1 The foot-stump was still granulating healthily, and nearly well.
1854 W. I. Burnett tr. C. T. E. von Siebold in tr. C. T. E. von Siebold & H. Stannius Compar. Anat. I. 370 With many of these species, some of the pairs of legs, or even all, are reduced to real foot-stumps.
1950 Amer. Jrnl. Nursing 50 546/2 Because of the muscular imbalance, the heel cord eventually contracts and the remaining foot stump is fixed in an equinus deformity.
2009 A. Koller in T. Zgonis Surg. Reconstruction Diabetic Foot & Ankle xxix. 424/2 Partial foot stumps in a dysvascular patient with thin and vulnerable skin are prone to pressure necrosis.
foot sugar n. the residue or foots (sense A. 18) which remains after sugar cane has been processed to remove molasses and refine the sugar crystals; = raw sugar n. at sugar n. Phrases c(a).
ΘΚΠ
the world > food and drink > food > additive > sweetener > [noun] > sugar > coarse sugar
gur1686
groat-sugar1743
bastard1766
foot sugar1818
rapadura1824
gur1834
piloncillo1844
pilonci1845
foot1871
1818 Q. Jrnl. Sci. & Arts Oct. 39 The syrup collects at the bottom, and forms what the refiners call foot sugar.
1843 J. Pereira Treat. Food & Diet ii. 117 Muscovado or raw sugar, sometimes termed Foot Sugar, has the deepest color, and is intermixed with lumps.
1917 Science 29 June 659/2 The sugar used for the animals consists of what is known to the trade as ‘foot’ sugar.
1999 A. Davidson Oxf. Compan. Food 764/1 The crudest sugar of all brown sugars is known as foot sugar or foots because in early processes it settled at the bottom of the barrel.
foot-sure adj. not liable to slip or stumble, sure-footed; also figurative.
ΚΠ
1847 C. G. F. Gore Castles in Air III. ii. 46 ‘Interfere, my dear Princess, interfere!’ said D'Estomont, in an audible whisper. ‘Mr. Wrottesley is not in a state to be foot-sure.’
1987 D. Pevsner tr. P. Werner Klettersteig 84 You will not only need to be experienced, perfectly footsure and absolutely free from vertigo, but will also require some climbing skill.
2003 N.Y. Times Mag. 20 Apr. 44/2 While he is a crusader, Livingstone is also a famously foot-sure career politician as interested as any in re-election.
† foot team n. Obsolete (apparently) a short chain connected to a plough or harrow when in use; cf. team n. 5a.
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the world > food and drink > farming > tools and implements > ploughing equipment > [noun] > plough > collar > part of
foot team?1523
plough-pin1707
the world > food and drink > farming > animal husbandry > general equipment > [noun] > harness of draught animal > traces > plough traces
team1344
plough stringc1350
plough-line1384
plougherband1404
foot team?1523
team-band1808
short end1844
trace-chain1844
?1523 J. Fitzherbert Bk. Husbandry f. iiiv Yf he woll haue his plough to go a narowe forowe..than he setteth his fote teame in ye nicke next to the plogh beam.
1558 in J. Raine Wills & Inventories N. Counties Eng. (1835) I. 162 Iiij fuyt teames xijs.
1845 Encycl. Metrop. XIV. 235/2 The frames of the larger harrows are strengthened by a cross-bar of iron, diagonally spiked upon the bulls, and finished with an eye, or hook, to which a short chain (called a foot-team) is fastened when in use.
† foot-tempered adj. Obsolete (of mortar) mixed by treading with the feet.
ΚΠ
tr. Palladius De re Rustica (Duke Humfrey) (1896) vi. l. 182 Wel foottempred morter theron trete.
foot traffic n. pedestrians moving through or about a place; spec. the number of pedestrians that pass through a place, esp. a business, in a given period of time; (also) pedestrians considered collectively.
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society > travel > aspects of travel > going on foot > [noun] > one going on foot > group of
foot traffic1843
society > travel > aspects of travel > going on foot > [noun] > one going on foot > foot-traffic
tread?1615
foot traffic1843
1843 Mechanics' Mag. 7 Oct. 264/1 For the floors of public buildings, private dwellings,..and other places of foot traffic, Messrs. Crannis and Kemp propose to make use of a tesselated pavement.
1869 Times 10 Aug. 7/2 Further provision should be made for the foot traffic over the bridge.
1926 Manch. Guardian 5 Aug. 11/7 Cowes is a town of narrow, meandering streets along which foot traffic moves without much consideration for motor-cars or other modernisms.
2009 S. S. Little Duck & Recover x. 119 If your retail foot traffic is down, this may be the time to create an out-of-store event that increases your community exposure.
foot tramp n. the action of tramping with the foot or feet; (also) an expedition on foot, a long tiring walk.
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society > travel > aspects of travel > going on foot > [noun] > a walk or journey on foot
walkc1405
walking1542
footwalk1599
travel1724
tramp1787
foot tramp1808
foot tour1841
the world > movement > progressive motion > walking > [noun] > manner of walking > heavy
proculcation1656
tramping1660
stump1770
clampa1774
stumping1805
foot tramp1808
tramp1817
stomping1819
trampling1828
tromping1953
stomp1971
1808 W. Scott Marmion iii. xxxiii. 166 The foot-tramp of a flying steed.
1856 E. K. Kane Arctic Explor. I. viii. 79 We are farther north..than any of our predecessors, except Parry on his Spitzbergen foot-tramp.
1907 S. E. White Camp & Trail iii. 35 Some things—such as a waterproof duffle bag—which you would need on a foot tramp, would be useless where you have kyacks and a tarpaulin to protect your belongings.
2008 Sydney Morning Herald (Nexis) 23 July 10 I..hear only the sound of birdsong and foot tramp.
foot trap n. (a) a trap or snare for the feet; †(b) the stocks, the pillory (obsolete).
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the world > food and drink > hunting > equipment > trap or snare > [noun]
grinc825
trapa1000
snarea1100
swikea1100
granea1250
springec1275
gina1300
gnarea1325
stringc1325
trebuchet1362
latch?a1366
leashc1374
snarlc1380
foot gina1382
foot-grina1382
traina1393
sinewa1400
snatcha1400
foot trapa1425
haucepyc1425
slingc1425
engine1481
swar1488
frame1509
brakea1529
fang1535
fall trap1570
spring1578
box-trapa1589
spring trapa1589
sprint1599
noosec1600
springle1602
springe1607
toil1607
plage1608
deadfall1631
puppy snatch1650
snickle1681
steel trap1735
figure (of) four1743
gun-trap1749
stamp1788
stell1801
springer1813
sprent1822
livetrap1823
snaphance1831
catch pole1838
twitch-up1841
basket-trap1866
pole trap1879
steel fall1895
tread-trap1952
conibear trap1957
conibear1958
society > authority > punishment > public or popular punishments > [noun] > punishing by pillory or stocks > pillory or stocks
stocksc1325
pilloryc1330
stocka1382
gofe1489
stretchneck1543
harmans1567
foot trap1585
pigeonholes1592
jougs1596
berlina1607
halsfang1607
gorget1635
cippusa1637
nutcrackers1648
catasta1664
wooden cravat1676
the wooden ruff1677
neck stock1681
wooden casement1685
timber-stairsc1750
Norway neckcloth1785
law-neck-cloth1789
stoop1795
timber1851–4
nerve1854
a1425 (c1395) Bible (Wycliffite, L.V.) (Royal) (1850) Job xviii. 10 The foot trappe [a1382 E.V. foot grene; L. pedica] of hym is hid in the erthe.
1585 J. Higgins tr. Junius Nomenclator 196 The stocks, or foote-trap.
1675 D. Manly Hexham's Copious Eng. & Netherdutch Dict. (new ed.) Voet-nagel, foot-trap.
1864 J. A. Grant Walk across Afr. 240 A most simple, ingenious foot-trap for wild buffalo we observed here for the first time.
1989 C. Roberts & C. W. Sasser Walking Dead iii. 28 Counter-guerrilla Warfare School in Okinawa had taught us to beware of foot traps.
2013 C. Fink Farmer's Almanac 146 The first set is empty, the big foot trap nestled in the brown leaves unsprung.
† foot trench n. Obsolete a shallow trench or foot drain (foot drain n.).
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the world > food and drink > farming > cultivation or tillage > preparation of land or soil > ditching or drainage > [noun] > ditch
dikec893
gripa1000
ditch1045
fosselOE
water-furrowlOE
sow1316
furrowc1330
rick1332
sewer1402
gripplec1440
soughc1440
grindle1463
sheugh1513
syre1513
rain?1523
trench1523
slough1532
drain1552
fowsie?1553
thorougha1555
rean1591
potting1592
trink1592
syver1606
graft1644
work1649
by-ditch1650
water fence1651
master drain1652
rode1662
pudge1671
gripe1673
sulcus1676
rhine1698
rilling1725
mine1743
foot trench1765
through1777
trench drain1779
trenchlet1782
sunk fence1786
float1790
foot drain1795
tail-drain1805
flow-dike1812
groopa1825
holla1825
thorough drain1824
yawner1832
acequia madre1835
drove1844
leader1844
furrow-drain1858
1765 Act Dividing & Inclosing Fields Draycot 14 To set down or place Posts and Rails, make Foot Trenches, or any other Fence, on the Out side the Ditches surrounding their respective Allotments.
1790 W. Marshall Agric. Provincialisms in Rural Econ. Midland Counties II. 437 Foot trenches, superficial drains about a foot wide.
foot tubercle n. Zoology (a) a parapodium of an annelid (now rare or disused); (b) any of the protuberances present on the undersurface of the foot of a frog, toad, or other amphibian.
ΚΠ
1865 Proc. Lit. & Philos. Soc. Manch. 4 177 (note) He [sc. Professor Huxley] proposes, after Milne Edwards, that the rings shall be called somites, the head prestomium, central antenna prestomial tentacle.., foot tubercle parapodium.
1902 Crown Encycl. V. 2713/1 From the sides of each [segment] certain processes termed ‘parapodia’ or ‘foot tubercles’.
1906 M. C. Dickerson Frog Bk. 90 The foot is smaller and more slender than that of the American toad, and the foot tubercles are correspondingly smaller.
1966 R. C. Stebbins Field Guide Western Reptiles & Amphibians vi. 33 Northwestern Salamander has parotoid glands, a glandular ridge on the tail, and lacks foot tubercles.
foot-up n. Rugby (now only in Rugby Union) (in a scrum) the illegal lifting of either foot by any member of the front row of forwards (on either side) before the ball is put in; an instance of this.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > ball game > football > rugby football > [noun] > foul
knock-on1845
throw on1845
foot-up1899
spear tackle1969
1899 Irish Times 25 Feb. 3/9 Foot-up against the visitors was of little use through Hardman muffing.
1904 Guy's Hosp. Gaz. 2 Jan. 19/1 Guy's were penalised upon several occasions for foot up in the scrum and also for off-side.
1927 W. W. Wakefield & H. P. Marshall Rugger 183 The forwards..merely leant up against one another while the front row tried trick hooking and foot-up tactics.
1963 Times 7 Mar. 3/5 For a foot-up offence, MacCormac..got three points for the Pay Corps.
2015 Gloucestershire Echo (Nexis) 25 Feb. 44 Just before half-time, North were penalised for a foot up.
foot valve n. a mechanical valve allowing a liquid or gas to pass in one direction only, typically situated at the lower end of the suction pipe in a pumping system.
ΚΠ
1802 Repertory Arts & Manuf. 16 300 A foot valve for preventing the return of the water during the descent of the bucket.
1909 Times 3 Feb. 17 Water is obtained from the harbour through a 6in. suction pipe fitted with the usual foot valve and strainer.
2006 R. J. Hoeksema Designed for Dry Feet iv. 52/1 The lift pump and the force pump both draw water through a foot valve (on the bottom of the cylinder) on the upward stroke.
footwale n. Nautical (now historical) a thick, longitudinal timber on the interior of a ship's hull, usually located near the turn of the bilge, used to reinforce the joints in the frames; cf. foot waling n.rare between the early 17th and late 20th centuries.
ΚΠ
1294 Exchequer Accts. (Public Rec. Office) 5/2 (MED) Footwale.
1347–50 Naval Acct. in B. Sandahl Middle Eng. Sea Terms (1951) I. 55 Pour wale piecen walestokez et fotwalen..pour les votwalen et autre diuerse mesrime.
1548 W. Grey Let. 3 Apr. in C. S. Knighton & D. Loades Navy Edward VI & Mary I (2011) (modernized text) 64 The Phoenix is not able to serve until she may be brought in a dock, there to have timbers and footwales put in her.
c1620 Treat. Shipbuilding (modernized text) in W. Salisbury & R. C. Anderson Treat. Shipbuilding & Treat. Rigging (1958) 8 The foot wales are long pieces of compass timber fastened to the floor timbers within board, and wrought up a strake or two from the keelson.
1999 R. C. Smith in J. A. Bense Archaeology Colonial Pensacola iv. 100 Beyond the buttresses on the port side is a footwale, which strengthened the hull framing.
2005 F. V. de Castro Pepper Wreck vii. 106 No traces of the keelson, footwales or ceiling were found on the site.
foot waling n. Nautical = footwale n.; (also) footwales collectively; cf. ceiling n. 4b.
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society > travel > travel by water > vessel, ship, or boat > parts of vessels > body of vessel > [noun] > planking > internal planking > up to lowest deck
ceiling1633
foot walinga1647
futtling1850
society > travel > travel by water > vessel, ship, or boat > parts of vessels > body of vessel > [noun] > planking > internal planking > plank(s) along bottom of boat
foot walinga1647
bottom boards1787
footling1855
burdens1857
gangboard1857
gangway1867
a1647 P. Pett Autobiogr. (1918) (modernized text) 52 The frame..planked as high as the rungheads [MS Wrong heads], no foot-waling as then begun.
1781 J. Weskett Compl. Digest Theory, Laws, & Pract. Insurance 513 The planks employed to line the ship, called the ceiling, or foot-waling, is next fixed in the intervals between the thick stuff of the hold.
1815 A. Bowden Treat. Dry Rot iv. 91 On examining this ship..it was discovered that the footwaling (of fir) was decayed from the floor-heads upward.
1845 Mechanics' Mag. 13 Sept. 176/2 Little or no footwalings, circles, or inside planking.
1918 Motor Boating Aug. 24 (caption) The sheathing at the bottom, called foot-waling, is much heavier than the outside planing but is not caulked.
2006 H. Vandersmissen & T. Haasnoot in J. J. L. M. Bierens Handbk. on Drowning i. 7 Its sections showed triangular air cases inside the boat, with rounded slopes, leaving only a narrow foot waling.
footwall n. Mining and Geology the underlying side of a mineworking, a vein of ore, or a geological fault; spec. that beneath an inclined vein or fault; contrasted with hanging-wall n. at hanging adj. Compounds.
ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > workplace > places where raw materials are extracted > mine > [noun] > other places in mine
work1474
firework1606
stemple1653
stool1653
bink1675
engine pit1687
swamp1691
feeder1702
wall1728
bag1742
sill1747
stope1747
rose cistern1778
striking-house1824
plat1828
stemplar1828
screen chamber1829
offtake1835
footwall1837
triple pit1839
stamp1849
paddock1852
working floor1858
pit house1866
ground-sluice1869
screen tower1871
planilla1877
undercurrent1877
mill1878
blanket-sluice1881
stringing-deal1881
wagon-breast1881
brushing-bed1883
poppet-leg1890
slippet1898
stable1906
overcut1940
1837 Edinb. New Philos. Jrnl. 22 163 In Herland [mine] there is a fine case of the foot wall being the lower.
1860 Mining Surveyors' Rep. (Victoria Dept. Mines) xii. 213 Slabs..being also placed longitudinally on the foot-wall to save the wear of the oxhide buckets.
1936 Economist 4 Jan. 38/2 Mr Douglas Allen advised that operations should be concentrated on prospecting on the footwall side to the east.
2006 E. De Souza in J. M. Mutmansky & R. V. Ramani 11th U.S./N. Amer. Mine Ventilation Symp. 243 Heat transfer to the hanging wall, orebody, footwall and cross-cut and production drifts was assessed during the backfill curing process.
foot warmer n. a small portable stove, heated pan, or other device used to keep the feet warm; (also) a covering or item of clothing intended to keep the feet warm.
ΚΠ
1764 J. Boswell Jrnl. 10 Feb. in F. A. Pottle Boswell in Holland (1952) 145 They had sat..protected from the cold. They had good footwarmers.
1799 T. Beddoes Ess. Causes Pulmonary Consumption (ed. 2) 136 In various kinds of indisposition, attended with cold extremities, I have for some years recommended..a tin foot-warmer.
1812 R. Southey in Q. Rev. 7 60 He would certainly chuse an eyder-duck for his foot-warmer.
1858 N. Hawthorne Jrnl. 6 Jan. in French & Italian Notebks. (1980) 4 A foot-warmer (a long, flat, tin utensil, full of hot water) was put into the carriage.
1883 Harper's Mag. Mar. 539/1 Charcoal to put in the little foot-warmers..used by all womenkind in Dutch churches.
1913 Good Housek. Mag. Apr. 566/1 A foot warmer suitable for use in the bed.
2015 Albert & Logan (Brisbane) News (Nexis) 26 Mar. 3 The volunteers are knitting quilts, beanies, bucket hats, bandannas and foot warmers.
foot washer n. a person who washes another's feet, esp. (in some denominations of the Christian church) as a religious rite or practice.
ΚΠ
1869 R. Browning Ring & Bk. III. ix. 226 Born foot-washer and foot-wiper, nay Foot-kisser to each comrade of you all!
1871 C. H. Spurgeon Treasury of David II. Ps. li. 14 If we could be preacher, precentor, doorkeeper, pew-opener, footwasher..all in one.
1944 A. Huxley Time must have Stop vii. 80 ‘I'll take them with me,’ he said, indicating the foot-washer and the towel-wielder.
2013 Washington Post (Nexis) 8 Dec. a21 The man is an activist, a street-worker, a foot-washer and an evangelizer.
foot washing n. the action or an act of washing a person's feet, esp. (in some denominations of the Christian church) as a religious rite or practice; (also) Scottish a ceremony performed on the eve of a wedding in which the feet of the bride or bridegroom are washed, usually by friends; cf. feet washing n. at Compounds 4.
ΘΚΠ
society > faith > worship > cleanness (ceremonial) > purification > [noun] > of feet
feet washinga1225
Maundya1325
foot washing1780
the world > physical sensation > cleanness and dirtiness > cleaning > washing > washing oneself or body > [noun] > washing the feet
feet washinga1225
pediluvium1693
pedilavium1702
pedilave1710
foot washing1780
society > society and the community > kinship or relationship > marriage or wedlock > wedding or nuptials > [noun] > manner of marrying > other types of wedding
confarreation1598
farreation1656
coemption1676
Scotch marriage1762
foot washing1780
civil union1837
white wedding1840
hand-fastening1899
Anand Karaj1938
destination wedding1990
1780 B. La Trobe tr. D. Cranz Anc. & Mod. Hist. Brethren ii. 125 The Pedilavium, or foot-washing, was indeed held, since the year 1729, by some few persons who thought themselves under an obligation to follow the command of Christ.
1837 T. Carlyle French Revol. II. vi. v. 282 Patriot clasps dusty Patriot to his bosom; there is footwashing and refection.
1879 W. Gunnyon Illustr. Sc. Hist. Life & Superstition v. 207 Another practice, now entirely in disuse, at least in urban districts, was what was called ‘foot-washing’—the ceremony of washing the feet of the parties affianced in the house of the bride.
1914 J. A. Wyeth With Sabre & Scalpel vi. 33 A piggin of water and a towel served the parson or assistants who performed the foot-washing rite.
2003 Time Out N.Y. 15 May 123/3 Laying on of hands and healings, foot washings, exorcisms—I was privy to a lot.
† foot weir n. Obsolete (apparently) a type of fish weir.
ΘΚΠ
the world > the earth > water > lake > pool > [noun] > artificially confined water > contrivance for impounding water > weir > types of
mill weirlOE
foot weirc1474
kiddle1477
rowte weir1584
catchwater drain1744
carry1753
dam-head1762
overfall1764
gauge-weir1791
shutter weir1880
c1474 in L. Wright Sources London Eng. (1996) 62 In eadem parte Thamis'..est vna wera vocata ffotewere.
1485 in L. Wright Sources London Eng. (1996) 62 Item all ffoote weres and Engynes in them.
1584 Orders Lord Mayor of London in R. Griffiths Descr. Thames (1758) 63 No Fishermen..or Trinkermen shall avaunce or set up any Wears, Engines, Rowte Wears, Pight Wears, Foot Wears.
† foot wharf n. Obsolete a type of wharf or (in early use) embankment.
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society > leisure > the arts > visual arts > architecture > other elements > [noun] > buttress
buttressc1330
botraillec1475
foot wharf1576
shouldering piece1585
flying buttress1669
buttressing1672
counterfort1728
arc-boutant1731
alette1810
flyer1912
arch-buttress-
1576 in Court Minutes Surrey & Kent Sewer Comm. (London County Council) (1909) 254 John Jackson of London founder that he doe make a foote wharfe at his stodge in deptforde.
1721 J. Perry Acct. Stopping Daggenham Breach 52 A Buttress or Foot Wharf on each side to keep in the Earth..to prevent the Dam from spreading and settling out at Foot.
1879 Ann. Rep. National Board Health 421 A foot wharf, 100 feet long, should be built from dry land, on Clark's Island, out into the bay for landing passengers from skiffs.
1906 Biennial Rep. Board Harbor Commissioners San Diego 14 A foot wharf, boat shop, and small marine ways.
foot wiper n. (a) a person who wipes another's feet; (figurative) an obsequious or sycophantic person; (b) something on or with which to wipe the foot or feet; (figurative) a person treated carelessly or contemptuously.
ΚΠ
1869 R. Browning Ring & Bk. III. ix. 226 Born foot-washer and foot-wiper, nay Foot-kisser to each comrade of you all!
1890 Army & Navy Jrnl. (U.S.) 18 Jan. 430/1 Metallic foot-wipers. The ‘Hartman’ Flexible Steel Woven Wire Mat, is practically indestructible.
1902 Pop. Sci. Monthly Mar. 399 These fibers..are extensively used..for the manufacture of small baskets, stiff brushes, street brooms and foot-wipers.
1921 N.Y. Times 26 Mar. 5/3 (headline) Ex-mayor on his term as ‘public footwiper’. Troubles of the universe heaped on his bald pate, says southerner.
2013 Sydney Morning Herald (Nexis) 13 Feb. 14 Broadsheet papers have a life beyond just being read... Foot wipers, seed box liners, garden mulches, and so much more.
† foot widdy n. Obsolete a shackle for the foot of an animal.
ΘΚΠ
the world > food and drink > farming > animal husbandry > general equipment > [noun] > hobble or fetter
cubbelc1230
pastern1284
lock1384
langle1394
spannel1398
warlockc1440
curb1477
hough-band1568
foot widdy1569
curble1598
spancel1610
hopple1641
twitchel1689
collaring1692
hobble1744
sideline1803
hog-tie1902
pigging-string1924
1569 in J. Raine Wills & Inventories Archdeaconry Richmond (1853) 218 x ireon temes and foite wedies.
† foot wobbler n. Obsolete slang (depreciative) a foot soldier.
ΘΚΠ
society > armed hostility > warrior > soldier > soldier by branch of army > [noun] > foot-soldier
footmanc1325
page?a1400
pieton?1473
foot soldier1587
rondache1607
peon1609
tolpatch1705
foot wobbler1785
wobbler1785
doughboy1835
fantassin1835
mud-crusher1864
web foot1866
grabby1868
infantryman1883
flat-foot1889
gravel-crusher1889
foot-slogger1894
PBI1916
mud-slogger1936
infanteer1944
leg1969
1785 F. Grose Classical Dict. Vulgar Tongue Foot wabler, a contemptuous appellation for a foot soldier, commonly used by the cavalry.
1814 W. Scott Waverley III. xiv. 187 I was sure you could be none of the foot-wobblers, as my Nosebag calls them. View more context for this quotation
1837 Tait's Mag. Feb. 126/1 Since the day that a cavalier and ‘foot-wobbler’ were first arrayed together in order of battle.
1882 United Service Apr. 440 Fantoccino..is almost a parallel to such derogatory epithets applied to the infantry by the cavalry,—as ‘mud-mashers’, ‘foot-wobblers’, etc.
C4. Compounds with feet.
feet washing n. = foot washing n. at Compounds 3.
ΘΚΠ
society > faith > worship > cleanness (ceremonial) > purification > [noun] > of feet
feet washinga1225
Maundya1325
foot washing1780
the world > physical sensation > cleanness and dirtiness > cleaning > washing > washing oneself or body > [noun] > washing the feet
feet washinga1225
pediluvium1693
pedilavium1702
pedilave1710
foot washing1780
a1225 ( Rule St. Benet (Winteney) (1888) liii. 107 Æfter þære fettweascu[n]ȝe [OE Corpus Cambr. þam þweale] sy þis fers ȝecweden.
1721 A. Ramsay Poems I. 12 Not soft Fifeteen on her Feet-washing Night.
1754 E. Burt Lett. N. Scotl. I. 261 The evening before a Wedding there is a Ceremony called the Feet Washing, when the Bride-Maids attend the future Bride, and wash her Feet.
1818 J. Bentham Church-of-Englandism 62 The incident of the feet-washing, as related by Saint John.
1871 C. Gibbon For Lack of Gold II. i. 7 He would be ready to endure the ceremony of the ‘Feet-washing’ on the eve of his bridal.
1914 Sabbath Recorder 10 Aug. 182/2 Feetwashing in ancient times was as necessary..as bootblacking is today.
1991 Church Hist. 60 475 The Brethren..kept alive a remarkably democratic ritual of feet washing.
feet binding n. now historical = foot-binding n. at Compounds 3.
ΚΠ
1838 Inquirer Mar. 93/1 Female infants..are subjected to the process of the feet-binding system.
1873 Sword & Trowel Aug. 344 An old lady..confessed that the process of ‘feet binding’ was perfect torture.
1919 Far Eastern Republic Dec. 12/1 The custom of feet binding has been discarded altogether.
2004 Cinema Jrnl. 43 45 Manchurian women were not subject to the Han custom of feet binding.
† feet swather n. Obsolete rare = foot-binder n. at Compounds 3.
ΚΠ
1753 Gentlemen's Mag. Dec. 569/1 Abundant instances of head moulders, face-squeezers, nose parers, ear-stretchers..foot-swathers, &c.]
1762 O. Goldsmith Citizen of World I. 7 Your nose-borers, feet-swathers..would all want bread, should their neighbours want vanity.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, March 2016; most recently modified version published online June 2022).

† footadj.

Forms: see foot n.
Origin: Formed within English, by conversion; modelled on a Latin lexical item. Etymon: foot n.
Etymology: < foot n., after classical Latin pedester prosaic (see pedestrial adj.).
Obsolete. rare.
With reference to style or language: prosaic, ‘low’, not refined or elevated.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > the arts > literature > style of language or writing > inelegance > [adjective] > low in style
broad1490
low1518
bawdy1519
comical?1565
foot1582
tavernly1612
mean1659
gruff1681
vulgar1716
terra a terra1728
pedestrian1805
unraised1817
terre-à-terre1888
1582 R. Stanyhurst in tr. Virgil First Foure Bookes Æneis 90 Theese bace and foote verses (so I terme al sauluing thee Heroical and Elegiacal).
1604 S. Hieron Preachers Plea 199 For a man (saith he [sc. Jerome]) that handleth holy matters, a low and (as it were) a foote oration [L. pedestris oratio] is necessarie, and not such as is thickned with artificiall framing of words.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, March 2016; most recently modified version published online March 2021).

footv.

Brit. /fʊt/, U.S. /fʊt/
Forms: see foot n.
Origin: Formed within English, by conversion. Etymon: foot n.
Etymology: < foot n. Compare Middle Dutch voeten (Dutch voeten ), Middle Low German voten , Middle High German vuozen , (in compounds) -vüezen (German fußen ). Compare earlier footing n.In sense 11 perhaps arising from misanalysis of fewter n. as an agent noun in -er suffix1 1. In sense 12 after footing n. 10.
I. To use the feet, and related senses.
1.
a.
(a) intransitive. To move the feet rhythmically when dancing; to dance. Also with away. Now rare.Now chiefly with featly in allusion to Shakespeare's use (see quot. a1616 at sense 1a(b)).
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > dancing > [verb (intransitive)]
frikec1000
sail1297
dancec1300
sault1377
tripc1386
balea1400
hopc1405
foota1425
tracec1425
sallyc1440
to dance a fita1500
fling1528
to tread a measure, a dance1577
trip1578
traverse1584
move1594
to shake heels1595
to shake it1595
firk1596
tripudiate1623
pettitoe1651
step1698
jink1718
to stand up1753
bejig1821
to toe and heel (it)1828
morris1861
hoof1925
terp1945
a1425 (?a1400) G. Chaucer Romaunt Rose (Hunterian) (1891) l. 2323 If he can wel foote and daunce It may hym greetly do auaunce.
a1450 (?c1430) J. Lydgate Daunce Machabree (Huntington) (1931) l. 195 (MED) Dethe hathe yn erthe no ladi ne maiestresse, And on his daunce ȝitte moste I nedes fote.
1700 J. Dryden Chaucer's Wife of Bathe's Tale in Fables 487 He saw a Quire of Ladies in a round, That featly footing seem'd to skim the Ground.
1790 ‘Sabina’ Laurentia II. 147 My honest friend, the sailor, was footing away with one of Elizabeth's maids of honor.
1829 A. M. Hall Sketches Irish Char. I. 12 The piper was blowing his best for the boys and girls, who footed gaily to their favourite jigs.
1897 A. M. Kipling Pinchbeck Goddess xi. 156 Winnie seemed to have no thought but for the music, to whose measure she bent and swayed and footed featly.
1922 J. Joyce Ulysses ix. 207 Puck Mulligan footed featly.
2014 M. Greenberg tr. J. W. von Goethe Faust (rev. ed.) ii. 234 A handsome youth out of the thinning vapor Steps forward, footing featly to the measure.
(b) transitive with it, in same sense. Now rare.
ΚΠ
1513 G. Douglas tr. Virgil Æneid xiii. ix. 110 Thai fut it [L. variantque pedes] so that lang war to devys Thair hasty fair.
1567 T. Drant tr. Horace Pistles in tr. Horace Arte of Poetrie sig. Ev Thou hast no trippinge trull To mince it with the now That thou mighst foote it vnto her As nimble as a cow.
a1616 W. Shakespeare Tempest (1623) i. ii. 381 Foote it featly heere, and there. View more context for this quotation
1672 Maypole Dance in Westm. Drollery 80 Then ev'ry man began to foot it round about; And ev'ry Girl did jet it, jet it, jet it, in and out.
1747 J. Mottley Compl. List Poets & Plays in T. Whincop Scanderbeg 262/2 All on a sudden the Music striking up the Irish Trot, she danced and footed it away as nimbly almost as any Wench of five and Twenty could.
1770 H. Brooke Fool of Quality V. 138 The lads and lasses entered upon the stage, and several footed it away featly, and with all due applause.
a1854 E. Grant Mem. Highland Lady (1988) II. xxix. 318 We went..to see the villagers dance upon the green, the queen, footing it merrily in her white dress..was pointed out to me as my future maid.
1863 C. C. Clarke Shakespeare-characters iv. 107 The dance of fairies..footing it to the cricket's song.
1941 V. Woolf Between Acts 158 The nymphs and swains join hands and foot it on the green.
1946 New Yorker 11 May 11/1 Vera-Ellen foots it featly in several fine dance numbers.
2001 Times 2 Jan. ii. 13/4 There's nothing like the pungent sounds of a Renaissance violin band with which to foot it featly into a new year.
b. transitive with cognate object. To dance (a dance or dance step). Now rare.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > dancing > [verb (transitive)]
leadOE
dancec1300
foota1500
move1568
trip1627
morris1844
a1500 (c1435) J. Lydgate Daunce Machabree (Lansd.) (1931) l. 434 Gentil menstral shewe [me] now thi witt How thou canst pleye or foote ariht this daunce.
?a1500 Court of Love (Trin. Cambr. R.3.19) l. 586 in K. Forni Chaucerian Apocrypha (2005) Falsely now thay foten loves daunce.
1569 T. Underdowne tr. Ovid Inuectiue against Ibis sig. Iviv As those whom mother Sibele makes to foote the Phrigian daunce.
1590 R. Harvey Plaine Percevall sig. B4v All the picked youth..footing the Morris about a May pole.
1636 D. Featley Clavis Mystica xxviii. 388 Teach their scholars how to foot the dance.
1775 Lady's Mag. May 273/1 Her nimble feet will now no more be seen To foot the dance upon the level green.
1842 S. C. Hall & A. M. Hall Ireland II. 338 Footing a hornpipe to the music of a pair of bagpipes.
1884 London Society June 625 Come and foot the dance with me.
1952 M. E. Stanley & S. Gilbert tr. M. Pallottino Etruscan Painting ii. 70 The movements of the figures on the right wall suggest that they are footing a dance-step.
†c. transitive. With object and adverb as complement. To bring (something) to a particular state or condition through dancing. Obsolete. rare.In quot. with reference to the daughter of Herodias, who requested the head of John the Baptist as a reward for pleasing Herod Antipas by dancing (Matthew 14:8, Mark 6:24).
ΚΠ
1633 T. Adams Comm. 2 Peter (ii. 3) 469 Herodias daughter, that..footed away the head of Iohn Baptist.
2.
a. intransitive. To move the feet as a means of locomotion; to walk or run; to step, tread. Frequently with adverb or prepositional phrase as complement.
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > progressive motion > walking > walk, tread, or step [verb (intransitive)]
stepOE
bistepa1250
to set footc1300
treada1400–50
foota1425
trade1547
stride1596
ambulate1598
purmeinea1614
walka1628
conculcate1657
to tread the ground1691
toddle1819
sashay1878
society > travel > aspects of travel > going on foot > go on foot [verb (intransitive)]
treadc897
stepc900
goeOE
gangOE
walka1375
wanderc1380
foota1425
to take to footc1440
awalkc1540
trade1547
beat it on the hoof1570
pad1610
to be (also beat, pad) upon the hoofa1616
trample1624
to pad (also pad upon) the hoof1683
ambulate1724
shank1773
stump it1803
pedestrianize1811
pedestrianate1845
tramp it1862
ankle1916
the world > space > place > position or situation > be positioned or situated [verb (intransitive)] > take up position > firmly or with sure foothold
roota1382
foota1425
to fix the foot or footing1582
haft1725
to dig in1851
a1425 Edward, Duke of York Master of Game (Digby) xxxiv. 112 Route to þe houndes, reght as it is y-sayed at þe fedynge, and folowe after and foot who foot may.
1570 P. Levens Manipulus Vocabulorum sig. Pi/1 To Foote, gressus ponere.
1590 E. Spenser Faerie Queene i. xi. sig. K8 The dreadfull Beast drew nigh..Halfe flying, and halfe footing in his haste.
1600 R. Surflet tr. C. Estienne & J. Liébault Maison Rustique ii. xxxi. 239 Saffron..groweth the better if it be a little footed vpon.
a1616 W. Shakespeare Merry Wives of Windsor (1623) ii. i. 118 Theeues doe foot by night. View more context for this quotation
1634 J. Ford Chron. Hist. Perkin Warbeck iii. sig. G Since first you footed on our Territories.
1647 J. Hall Poems ii. 98 All paths are footed over, but that one Which should be gone.
1771 J. Entick New Lat. & Eng. Dict. To foot (away), cito pede ambulare.
1784 Town & Country Mag. Aug. 410/1 They forgot, while they footed, their rustical labour.
1824 S. Ferrier Inheritance II. xxxvii. 415 He footed away as fast as his short legs..permitted.
1851 Fraser's Mag. June 655/1 Both teams were footing their very best.
1865 G. Meredith Rhoda Fleming III. xiii. 206 They footed together, speechless; taking the woman's quickest gliding step.
1929 D. H. Lawrence Pansies 36 The tight-rope lady..footed cautiously out on the rope.
1992 D. Glazer Last Oasis 98 The kiddies had once had a hamster, and the way it footed round on its treadmill had reminded her of her own life.
b. transitive with it, in same sense.
ΚΠ
1576 A. Fleming Panoplie Epist. Ep. Ded. sig. ¶iijv I..leasurly began to foote it forward.
1582 R. Mulcaster 1st Pt. Elementarie i. 3 The thre good Ladies, being halt & lame,..cannot foot it so fast, as their fellow can fly.
1623 J. Taylor New Discouery by Sea sig. C4 On Saturday the 23. of August we footed it to Brentfoord, and Boated it to London.
1637 J. Fletcher & P. Massinger Elder Brother i. i. sig. B1 I am tyr'd Sir, And nere shall foot it home.
1713 J. Addison in Guardian 21 Sept. 1/2 My Operator..used to foot it from the other End of the Town every Morning.
1786 J. Q. Adams Diary 22 Mar. (1981) II. 5 I footed it for Cambridge.
1837 N. Hawthorne Twice-told Tales 150 He did not look as if he had started in the freshness of the morning, but had footed it all night.
1891 S. J. Weyman Story Francis Cludde (1900) iii. 24 The first streak of daylight found me already footing it through the forest by paths known to few save the woodcutters.
1893 Earl of Dunmore Pamirs I. 181 Riding for us was out of the question, so we all had to foot it.
1944 J. R. R. Tolkien Let. 31 May (1995) 83 Yesterday: lecture—puncture, after fetching fish, so I had to foot it to town and back.
2010 D. D. Irving Afr. Cookboy 97 We footed it to where I knew we'd find Boy Faraday.
c. intransitive. Nautical. Of a yacht or boat: to move or sail with speed; spec. (with reference to windward sailing) to sail with speed as distinguished from sailing close to the wind or pointing (pointing n.1 6c). Also transitive with it.
ΘΚΠ
society > travel > travel by water > action or motion of vessel > [verb (intransitive)] > make progress > move swiftly
crowd937
runOE
boom1617
to cut a feather1627
with a bone in her mouth (also teeth)1627
snore1830
spank1835
ramp1856
to step out1884
foot1892
1892 Forest & Stream 9 June 549/1 In this race Mary S. proved her speed by racing away from her owner, footing so fast both on and off the wind that at times he was unable to catch her to talk or alter her trim.
1901 Daily Chron. 27 Sept. 5/7 His boat seemed to be footing it better.
1951 Motorboating Jan. 267/1 (advt.) She..foots fantastically in a fresh breeze, and when it blows she just takes off.
2005 C. Pastore Temple to Wind viii. 126 Although Sycamore still held a slight lead, Barr, footing fast to the west, chipped away.
3. transitive. Scottish. To stack turfs or peats into a heap or footing (footing n.) to dry.
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > relative position > arrangement or fact of being arranged > state of being gathered together > gather together [verb (transitive)] > gather in one mass or form lumps > accumulate > stack
stackc1325
foot1550
cord1762
bond1865
1550 in C. Rogers Rental Bk. Cupar-Angus (1880) II. 91 Thai..sall help ȝeirlie to fute our turffys in the mvir of Monkell.
1777 Dumfries Weekly Jrnl. 29 July Last Saturday evening, a woman who lives at Carruchan near this place, went out to the moss to foot peats.
1802 C. Findlater Gen. View Agric. County of Peebles 209 The peats..are placed on end three or four together, and leaning against each other; this is called footing the peats.
1895 Irish Monthly Oct. 507 The women and girls..had been working hard in the bog, ‘footing’ and ‘clamping’ turf.
1957 E. E. Evans Irish Folk Ways xiv. 194 After lying spread on the ground for a week or two the turves are footed, that is a dozen or so are put to lean together in the shape of a pitched roof.
2004 E. Hart Lake of Sorrows 2007 ii. 16 Even when they brought the big machines in we'd have whole families footing the turf for the summer.
4.
a. transitive. To set foot on; to step or tread on with the feet; to walk on. Also occasionally: to dance on. In later use chiefly poetic and literary. Now rare.
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > progressive motion > walking > walk upon or tread [verb (transitive)]
to step (up)on ——OE
beatOE
treadc1384
betread1495
overwalk1533
foot1557
walk1574
trample1595
reiterate1648
to step foot in1864
pound1890
society > travel > aspects of travel > going on foot > traverse on foot [verb (transitive)] > walk on or over
betread1495
foot1557
walk1574
trample1595
society > leisure > dancing > [verb (transitive)] > dance on
foota1718
trip1749
the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > upward movement > leaping, springing, or jumping > cause to jump [verb (transitive)] > caper on
foota1718
1557 T. North tr. A. de Guevara Diall Princes f. 248v/1 Lucil..vsed to fote [Sp. ruar] the streates of Rome.
1570 R. Sempill Complaint Scotl. (single sheet) O Nobill Lordis of Renoun, O Barronis bauld ye mak yow boun To fute the feild with fresche effeir.
1603 R. Knolles Gen. Hist. Turkes 23 The top of the wall: which was first footed by the duke Godfrey.
1667 Bp. S. Parker Free Censvre Platonick Philos. 102 The famous Traveller of Odcomb..footed most parts of the known world.
a1718 T. Parnell Poems Several Occasions (1721) 41 The Faeries bragly foot the Floor.
1792 S. Whyte Coll. Poems (ed. 2) 58 Round the jocund vicinage are seen Night-tripping fairies deftly foot the green.
1812 J. J. Henry Accurate Acct. Campaign against Quebec 26 The ground we footed within the last three days is a very rugged isthmus.
1884 D. Grant Lays & Legends of North 53 For weel oor lads an' lasses kent The gait to fit the fleer.
1892 R. L. Stevenson in Illustr. London News 2 July 9/3 It was good to foot the grass.
1903 J. Masefield in Speaker 15 Aug. 460/1 The road that we must foot again, Though the feet halt and the heart ache.
2003 Trail Nov. 48/1 There are never that many people striding out in Ireland at any one time. And that's whether you're footing the Beara Peninsula..or any of the many other famed Irish long distance routes.
†b. transitive (reflexive or in passive). With adverb or prepositional phrase as complement. To be established or settled in a place; to gain a foothold. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > place > position or situation > take up position [verb (reflexive)] > firmly
rootc1400
foot1600
1600 W. Shakespeare Henry V ii. iv. 143 You see the King of England is not slack, For he is footed on [1623 ed. footed in] this land alreadie.
1633 T. Stafford Pacata Hibernia ii. iii. 140 When they are footed in Mounster, the most part of the Countrey will joyne with them.
1654 J. Tillinghast Generation-work iii. 69 The Church and people of God in time of old..could not be said to be footed upon Mount Sion.
1658 R. Newcourt Title to Map of London (heading) Hingest the Saxon..footing himselfe here.
1723 A. Hill King Henry V i. i. 1 Dreadfully footed on thy boastfull Shore, We feel thy trembling Genius bend beneath Us.
1888 Daily News 27 Apr. 6/3 They [sc. bricklayers] will go through the Thanet sands with cylinders again until they foot themselves well into the chalk.
†c. intransitive. Of a horse: to pace or position the feet while moving. Obsolete. rare.
ΘΚΠ
the world > animals > mammals > group Ungulata (hoofed) > family Equidae (general equines) > habits and actions of horse > [verb (intransitive)] > leap or prance > jump over obstacle > get a good footing
foot1826
1826 Sporting Mag. 17 385 If he have a hand on his horse, and will allow him to ‘foot well’ (as we call it) before he springs.
5. transitive. Of a bird of prey, esp. a hawk: to seize or clutch (an object of prey) with the talons. Also in figurative context. Also occasionally intransitive. Now rare.
ΘΚΠ
the world > animals > birds > bird of prey > [verb (intransitive)] > seize quarry
strike?a1513
foot1575
the world > animals > birds > bird of prey > [verb (transitive)] > seize quarry
trussa1470
foot1575
strike1632
1575 G. Turberville Bk. Faulconrie 130 Throwe hir out the lewre, and let hir foote a henne..and kill it.
1600 R. Surflet tr. C. Estienne & J. Liébault Maison Rustique i. xvii. 111 A certaine kinde of swanne..[with] his right foote..catcheth and footeth his pray.
a1616 W. Shakespeare Cymbeline (1623) v. v. 210 The holy Eagle Stoop'd, as to foot vs. View more context for this quotation
1642 J. Milton Apol. Smectymnuus 20 Now trust me not, Readers, if I be not already weary of pluming and footing this Seagull, so open he lies to strokes.
1735 Sportsman's Dict. II. at Sparrow-hawks Sometimes put live birds into the chamber to her, that she may learn to know how to foot and to kill them.
1879 E. D. Radcliffe in Encycl. Brit. IX. 7/1 A hawk is said to ‘foot’ well or to be a ‘good footer’ when she is successful in killing.
1891 J. E. Harting Bibliotheca Accipitraria 222 Foot, to clutch.
2014 H. MacDonald H is for Hawk xxii. 210 One afternoon Mabel leapt up from her perch to my fist, lashed out with one foot and buried four talons in my bare right arm... Why has she footed me? I thought wildly, after she released her grip.
†6. transitive. To follow the trail or tracks of (a quarry). Also intransitive with adverb or prepositional phrase as complement. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > progressive motion > order of movement > following behind > follow [verb (transitive)] > follow (a track or trail) > follow track or trail of
troda1250
tracec1440
track1565
train1575
tract1577
hunt1579
foot1581
trail1590
to tread the feet of1596
insist1631
pad1861
sleuth1905
back-trail1907
back-track1925
the world > movement > progressive motion > order of movement > following behind > follow behind [verb (intransitive)] > follow track or trail
track1805
foot1829
spoor1865
1581 H. Chillester Youthes Witte 78 Like smelling hounde, I vent thy trace: and can foote out thy vaulting place.
1600 R. Surflet tr. C. Estienne & J. Liébault Maison Rustique vii. xxiv. 846 He must betake himselfe earlie to the place, which he knoweth to be the generall haunt of harts..and he shall lead along with him his bloudhound that is not giuen to open, to foote him withal.
1771 Multum in Parvo 13 The Rats will run it like a dog footing a hare.
1829 Sporting Mag. 24 292 The quails squatted till the dogs footed up to their very tails.
1886 R. E. G. Cole Gloss. Words S.-W. Lincs. (at cited word) There was snow on the ground, and they footed him to the pond.
7.
a. transitive. To strike with the foot; to kick. Also figurative: to spurn. Also with away. Now rare.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > contempt > hold in contempt [verb (transitive)] > reject contemptuously
spurnc1000
defyc1320
refusec1350
to kick against or ata1425
spurn1526
asperne1548
explodea1552
to cast (also throw) at one's heels1555
mock1558
foot1600
outscout1602
slighta1616
scout1710
stuff1955
society > leisure > sport > types of play, actions, or postures > [verb (transitive)] > other actions or types of play
outshoot1545
football1599
pitch1717
make1819
to warm up1868
to draw out1893
bench1898
foot1900
cover1907
cannonball1911
telegraph1913
unsight1923
snap1951
to sit out1955
pike1956
to sit down1956
wrong-foot1960
blindside1968
sit1977
society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > ball game > football > play football [verb (transitive)] > actions or manoeuvres
place-kick1845
punt1845
dribble1863
head1871
tackle1884
mark1887
foot1900
boot1914
rumble1954
late-tackle1957
dummy1958
crash-tackle1960
to pick up1961
nod1965
slot1970
welly1986
1600 W. Shakespeare Merchant of Venice i. iii. 117 You that did..foote [printed soote; corrected in 1619, 1623] me as you spurne a stranger curre Ouer your threshold. View more context for this quotation
a1627 W. Rowley & T. Middleton Wit at Severall Weapons v. i, in F. Beaumont & J. Fletcher Comedies & Trag. (1647) sig. Llllll4v/2 When you shall foot her from you, not she you.
1681 P. Rycaut tr. B. Gracián y Morales Critick 142 Thus all endeavoured to kick, and foot away this common Ball, for in that consisted their dexterity and Victory.
1808 J. Jamieson Etymol. Dict. Sc. Lang. Foot, to kick, to strike with the foot; a term used with respect to horses.
1845 Douglas Jerrold's Shilling Mag. 2 5 How would he foot little boys, guilty of peg-tops and marbles!
1900 Public School Mag. Feb. 80/2 Though seldom, of late years, seen to handle a bat or foot a ball himself, he spared neither time nor money in his efforts to bring U.C.S. into the front rank of playing schools.
2001 N. Brandt When Oberlin was King of Gridiron v. 55 Too often, footing the ball caused it to spin erratically off course.
†b. transitive. To tread, press, or crush with the feet. Obsolete. rare.
ΘΚΠ
the world > existence and causation > creation > destruction > pressing, pressure, or squeezing > press or squeeze [verb (transitive)] > with the thumb, foot, etc.
footc1682
thumb1899
c1682 J. Collins Salt & Fishery 16 It was footed or pressed into a Cask.
c. transitive. To move (an object) by pushing it with the foot or feet. Chiefly Nautical. Now rare.
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > impelling or driving > pushing and pulling > push and pull [verb (transitive)] > push > with feet
potea1350
foot1757
1757 W. Thompson Royal Navy-men's Advocate 41 They sometimes produce the Standard Weight without Footing or Handing the Scale.
1769 W. Falconer Universal Dict. Marine sig.*H2v Jetter dehors le fond du hunier, to foot the top-sail out of the top.
c1860 H. Stuart Novices or Young Seaman's Catech. (rev. ed.) 49 The masthead men parrel the yard and foot it amidships.
1899 Lett. & Papers First Dutch War (Navy Rec. Soc.) I. 213 The act of loosing or unfurling a sail, particularly applied to staysails, or, in the tops, footing the sails out of the top.
1990 N. Baker Room Temperature (1991) iv. 24 In the house I grew up in, a mysterious brick..had served to hold open the inner front door, and because Jim Heydermann and I..had dropped it many times, the inaccessible ballast, repeatedly broken, made audible cereal-box noises as one footed it into place.
II. To provide with a foot, and related senses.
8. transitive. To make a foot for or add or attach a foot to (esp. a stocking). Now rare.
ΘΚΠ
the world > textiles and clothing > clothing > tailoring or making clothes > making footwear > make footwear [verb (transitive)] > carry out other processes
coupa1300
foot1465
unsole1598
close1801
galosha1817
top-piece1830
tree1856
sprig1885
knife1888
to knock up1905
spring1905
the world > space > relative position > low position > put in low position [verb (transitive)] > attach a foot to
foot1570
society > inhabiting and dwelling > inhabited place > a building > furniture and fittings > seat > stool > [verb (transitive)] > add foot to
foot1570
the world > textiles and clothing > clothing > tailoring or making clothes > making other clothing > make other clothing [verb (transitive)] > carry out specific processes
stock1520
sole1570
toe1608
tag1627
foot1663
refoot1827
re-cover1896
1465 [implied in: 1465 in Manners & Househ. Expenses Eng. (1841) 302 To pay for fforfotenge of his botuys. (at forefoot v.)].
1570 P. Levens Manipulus Vocabulorum sig. Pi/1 To Foote, a stoole, pedem addere.
1598 W. Shakespeare Henry IV, Pt. 1 ii. v. 117 Ile sow neatherstocks and mend them, and foote them too. View more context for this quotation
1609 C. Butler Feminine Monarchie ii. sig. C3 The stone-stooles must bee footed as they may.
1663 A. Cowley Cutter of Coleman-St. iv. vi. 47 She shall foot Stokins in a Stall for me.
1739 L. Bushe Let. 18 Feb. in J. Stevenson Two Cent. Life in Down (1920) iii. 377 Her friend..foots stockings.
1771 T. Smollett Humphry Clinker I. 83 The stockings, which his wife footed for me.
1841 Ann. Reg. 1840 ii. Law Cases 227/1 I footed stockings like them, but I cannot swear these stockings were footed by me.
1868 A. D. Whitney Patience Strong's Outings iii. 33 Grandma..was footing socks for father.
1919 Nation 29 Nov. 299/2 By the fire behind there would be Granny, footing stockings or darning.
2001 L. Ulrich Age of Homespun xi. 375 On needles like these, New England knitters produced stockings for everyday use and Sunday wear..and when those wore out they darned and ‘footed’ them to make them new again.
9.
a. transitive. To add up (a column of numbers, or an account, bill, etc., having this) and enter the sum at the bottom; to reckon, calculate, add up. Now only in Accounting. Frequently with up.figurative in quot. 1883. N.E.D. (1897) labels this sense as chiefly regional and colloquial.
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > number > arithmetic or algebraic operations > perform arithmetic or algebraic operations [verb (transitive)] > add or sum
suma1387
drawc1392
to lay togethera1400
add?c1425
foot1491
confer1552
to add up1611
total1716
sum1740
tot1770
to run up1830
summate1880
society > trade and finance > management of money > keeping accounts > keep accounts [verb (transitive)] > reckon up
tellOE
tail1377
foot1491
tailye1497
to tell over1579
total1716
tot1770
the world > relative properties > number > arithmetic or algebraic operations > perform arithmetic or algebraic operations [verb (intransitive)] > add or sum > result from or amount to
surmount1522
amount1613
foot1883
1491 in Acts Lords of Council Civil Causes (1839) I. 176/2 The tyme that his compt wes futit.
1567 in C. Innes Registrum Honoris de Morton (1853) I. 28 To charge, discharge, and perfyte and fute the saidis comptis.
1653 in J. D. Marwick Extracts Rec. Burgh Glasgow (1881) II. 269 To meit with Mr. George Young and to fitt and cleir ane compt with him.
1679 C. Ness Distinct Disc. Antichrist xii. 157 The greatest knot of difficulty in this Work hath evermore been acknowledged, to find out where to foot the account.
1721 J. Kelly Compl. Coll. Scotish Prov. 86 Did you ever fit Accounts with him?
1759 B. Gale Vindic. Let wrote Member Lower House of Assembly 17 Who would have cast up and footed the account?
1827 J. F. Cooper Prairie III. viii. 254 It is time to foot up the small reckoning, that has been running on for some time atwixt us.
1873 J. Richards On Arrangem. Wood-working Factories 80 The breakages from accident, if footed up at the end of each year, would in most cases equal..the clear earnings.
1883 Harper's Mag. May 893/2 [He] was doing a little sum in social arithmetic. He was footing me up, as it were.
1897 Daily News 19 Mar. 2/7 He sits him down beforehand to foot up the ways and means.
1909 Amer. Machinist 9 Sept. 468/3 After some time results were footed up.
1922 F. L. Cavis Accounting & Cost Keeping Dept. Engin. & Constr. 62 The columns on the recapitulation sheets were footed and totaled.
1999 D. M. Guy & D. R. Carmichael Wiley Practitioner's Guide to GAAS 99 §550.7 Any information that is disaggregated is generally footed to determine that its total agrees with the total in the audited financial statements.
†b. transitive. To end (a letter, note, etc.) with a postscript. Obsolete. rare.
ΘΚΠ
society > communication > correspondence > letter-writing > write (a letter) [verb (transitive)] > end letter with postscript
foot1648
1648 J. Evelyn Let. 5 June in Diary & Corr. (1852) III. 28 I would foot this letter with what I have since learned.
c. intransitive. Of a column of numbers, account, bill, etc.: to amount to a certain sum. Also more generally: to amount to a certain outcome or result. Chiefly with up. Now rare.
ΘΚΠ
society > trade and finance > management of money > keeping accounts > keep accounts [verb (intransitive)] > reckon total
foota1770
sum-totalize1837
a1770 N. Hooker Six Disc. (1771) vi. 93 His account is longer, and will foot as to the sum total, larger than those of his juniors.
1867 Times 19 Sept. 10 The united debts of the colony foot up something like £250,000.
1893 F. Peel Spen Valley 224 His total losses footed up to £5000.
1920 B. P. Blood Pluriverse vi. 159 All his rents footed up to just that amount.
1987 A. Theroux Adultery xiii. 314 The whole situation footed up to the conclusion that I should sell the house I had and with her buy another one we chose together.
d. transitive. Originally colloquial. To pay or settle (a bill, esp. one which is large or unreasonable, or which has been run up by another party).
ΘΚΠ
society > trade and finance > payment > pay money or things [verb (transitive)] > pay (a claim, dues, or charge)
doOE
bearOE
payc1300
content1433
answer1471
recontenta1525
sustain1530
even1619
settle1688
foot1819
1819 E. Evans Pedestrious Tour 84 My dogs..helped themselves to the first repast presented, leaving their master to foot the bills.
1891 Leeds Mercury 18 July 6/7 The annual bill we foot is, after all, small compared with that of France.
1914 W. Mantle We'll put you thro' Mill, Kaiser Bill (song lyric) 4 We'll put you through the mill, And will make you foot the bill, When we leave you lying still, Kaiser Bill! Kaiser Bill!
1992 Esquire July 86/2 Perot in 1986 secretly footed a hefty tab to sail a shipload of Miss U.S.A. contestants off the coast of Libya to entertain the Navy's Sixth Fleet.
2006 Daily Tel. 13 Jan. 23/3 So why are the taxpayers having to foot the bill to undo the mistakes of the Government?
†10. transitive. To sing the refrain or chorus of (a song). Cf. foot n. 17b. Obsolete. rare.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > the arts > music > performing music > singing > sing [verb (transitive)] > sing refrain
foota1556
chorus1701
a1556 N. Udall Ralph Roister Doister (?1566) i. iv. sig. C.ij I will by myne owne selfe foote the song perchaunce.
†11. transitive. Scottish. Apparently: to set (a spear) into a fewter or rest. Obsolete. rare. [See discussion in etymology.]
ΚΠ
c1600 Diurnal of Remarkable Occurrents (1833) 45 The Scottis..futtit thair speris, and slew..to the nomber of thre scoir.
†12. transitive. To admit (a person) to a new position of employment on payment of a footing (footing n. 10). Obsolete. rare.
ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > working > labour supply > [verb (transitive)] > hire or employ > admit to trade on payment of fee
foot1825
1825 Examiner 2 May 285/2 Several of the workmen..had been partaking of some liquor..on account of footing a new comer.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, March 2016; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.int.eOEadj.1582v.a1425
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