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 ve el 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-pa engers; 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′le , 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, .; 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′-pa ′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 me enger 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 impre ion 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 pa engers 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. fu , L. pes , ped is , Gr. pous , podos , Sans. pād .]