Foot

Foot, foot, n. that part of its body on which an animal stands or walks (having in man 26 bones): the lower part or base: a measure=12 in., (orig.) the length of a man's foot: foot-soldiers: a division of a line of poetry:—pl. Feet.—v.i. to dance: to walk:—pr.p. foot′ing; pa.p. foot′ed.—ns. Foot′ball, a large ball for kicking about in sport: play with this ball; Foot′-bath, act of bathing the feet: a vessel for this purpose; Foot′-board, a support for the foot in a carriage or elsewhere: the foot-plate of a locomotive engine; Foot′boy, an attendant in livery; Foot′breadth, the breadth of a foot, an area of this size; Foot′bridge, a narrow bridge for foot-passengers; Foot′cloth (Shak.), a sumpter-cloth which reached to the feet of the horse.—p.adj. Foot′ed, provided with a foot or feet: (Shak.) having gained a foothold, established.—ns. Foot′fall, a setting the foot on the ground: a footstep; Foot′gear, shoes and stockings.—n.pl. Foot′guards, guards that serve on foot, the élite of the British infantry.—ns. Foot′hill, a minor elevation distinct from the higher part of a mountain and separating it from the valley (usually in pl.); Foot′hold, space on which to plant the feet: that which sustains the feet; Foot′ing, place for the foot to rest on: firm foundation: position: settlement: tread: dance: plain cotton lace.—adj. Foot′less, having no feet.—ns. Foot′-lick′er (Shak.), a fawning, slavish flatterer; Foot′light, one of a row of lights in front of and on a level with the stage in a theatre, &c.; Foot′man, a servant or attendant in livery: (B.) a soldier who serves on foot: a runner:—pl. Foot′men; Foot′mark, Foot′print, the mark or print of a foot: a track; Foot′note, a note of reference at the foot of a page; Foot′pad, a highwayman or robber on foot, who frequents public paths or roads; Foot′-pass′enger, one who travels on foot; Foot′path, a narrow way which will not admit carriages; Foot′-plate, the platform on which the driver and stoker of a locomotive engine stand; Foot′-post, a post or messenger that travels on foot; Foot′-pound, the force needed to raise one pound weight the height of one foot—the usual unit in measuring mechanical force; Foot′-race, a race on foot; Foot′-rope, a rope stretching along under a ship's yard for the men standing on when furling the sails: the rope to which the lower edge of a sail is attached; Foot′rot, a name applied to certain inflammatory affections about the feet of sheep; Foot′rule, a rule or measure a foot in length; Foot′-sol′dier, a soldier that serves on foot.—adj. Foot′-sore, having sore or tender feet, as by much walking.—ns. Foot′-stalk (bot.), the stalk or petiole of a leaf; Foot′-stall, a woman's stirrup; Foot′step, the step or impression of the foot: a track: trace of a course pursued.—n.pl. Foot′steps, course, example.—ns. Foot′stool, a stool for placing one's feet on when sitting: anything trodden upon; Foot′-warm′er, a contrivance for keeping the feet warm; Foot′way, a path for passengers on foot.—p.adj. Foot′worn, worn by many feet, as a stone: foot-sore.—Foot-and-mouth disease (see Murrain).—Foot it, to walk: to dance.—Cover the feet (B.), a euphemism for, to ease nature.—Put one's best foot foremost, to appear at greatest advantage; Put one's foot in it, to spoil anything by some indiscretion; Set on foot, to originate. [A.S. fót, pl. fét; Ger. fuss, L. pes, pedis, Gr. pous, podos, Sans. pād.]