GNU Collaborative International Dictionary of English

Found 2 definitions

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    Foot , n.; pl. Feet . [OE. fot, foot, pl. fet, feet. AS. fōt, pl. fēt; akin to D. voet, OHG. fuoz, G. fuss, Icel. fōtr, Sw. fot, Dan. fod, Goth. fōtus, L. pes, Gr. πούς, Skr. pād, Icel. fet step, pace measure of a foot, feta to step, find one's way. √77, 250. Cf. Antipodes, Cap-a-pie, Expedient, Fet to fetch, Fetlock, Fetter, Pawn a piece in chess, Pedal.]
    1. (Anat.) The terminal part of the leg of man or an animal; esp., the part below the ankle or wrist; that part of an animal upon which it rests when standing, or moves. See Manus, and Pes.
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    2. (Zool.) The muscular locomotive organ of a mollusk. It is a median organ arising from the ventral region of body, often in the form of a flat disk, as in snails. See Illust. of Buccinum.
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    3. That which corresponds to the foot of a man or animal; as, the foot of a table; the foot of a stocking.
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    4. The lowest part or base; the ground part; the bottom, as of a mountain, column, or page; also, the last of a row or series; the end or extremity, esp. if associated with inferiority; as, the foot of a hill; the foot of the procession; the foot of a class; the foot of the bed; ; the foot of the page.
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      And now at foot
      Of heaven's ascent they lift their feet.
      Milton.

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    5. Fundamental principle; basis; plan; -- used only in the singular.
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      Answer directly upon the foot of dry reason.
      Berkeley.

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    6. Recognized condition; rank; footing; -- used only in the singular. [R.]
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      As to his being on the foot of a servant.
      Walpole.

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    7. A measure of length equivalent to twelve inches; one third of a yard. See Yard.
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      ☞ This measure is supposed to be taken from the length of a man's foot. It differs in length in different countries. In the United States and in England it is 304.8 millimeters.

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    8. (Mil.) Soldiers who march and fight on foot; the infantry, usually designated as the foot, in distinction from the cavalry. “Both horse and foot.”
      Milton.

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    9. (Pros.) A combination of syllables consisting a metrical element of a verse, the syllables being formerly distinguished by their quantity or length, but in modern poetry by the accent.
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    10. (Naut.) The lower edge of a sail.
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      Foot is often used adjectively, signifying of or pertaining to a foot or the feet, or to the base or lower part. It is also much used as the first of compounds.

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      Foot artillery. (Mil.) (a) Artillery soldiers serving in foot. (b) Heavy artillery. Farrow. -- Foot bank (Fort.), a raised way within a parapet. -- Foot barracks (Mil.), barracks for infantery. -- Foot bellows, a bellows worked by a treadle. Knight. -- Foot company (Mil.), a company of infantry. Milton. -- Foot gear, covering for the feet, as stocking, shoes, or boots. -- Foot hammer (Mach.), a small tilt hammer moved by a treadle. -- Foot iron. (a) The step of a carriage. (b) A fetter. -- Foot jaw. (Zool.) See Maxilliped. -- Foot key (Mus.), an organ pedal. -- Foot level (Gunnery), a form of level used in giving any proposed angle of elevation to a piece of ordnance. Farrow. -- Foot mantle, a long garment to protect the dress in riding; a riding skirt. [Obs.] -- Foot page, an errand boy; an attendant. [Obs.] -- Foot passenger, one who passes on foot, as over a road or bridge. -- Foot pavement, a paved way for foot passengers; a footway; a trottoir. -- Foot poet, an inferior poet; a poetaster. [R.] Dryden. -- Foot post. (a) A letter carrier who travels on foot. (b) A mail delivery by means of such carriers. -- Fot pound, and Foot poundal. (Mech.) See Foot pound and Foot poundal, in the Vocabulary. -- Foot press (Mach.), a cutting, embossing, or printing press, moved by a treadle. -- Foot race, a race run by persons on foot. Cowper. -- Foot rail, a railroad rail, with a wide flat flange on the lower side. -- Foot rot, an ulcer in the feet of sheep; claw sickness. -- Foot rule, a rule or measure twelve inches long. -- Foot screw, an adjusting screw which forms a foot, and serves to give a machine or table a level standing on an uneven place. -- Foot secretion. (Zool.) See Sclerobase. -- Foot soldier, a soldier who serves on foot. -- Foot stick (Printing), a beveled piece of furniture placed against the foot of the page, to hold the type in place. -- Foot stove, a small box, with an iron pan, to hold hot coals for warming the feet. -- Foot tubercle. (Zool.) See Parapodium. -- Foot valve (Steam Engine), the valve that opens to the air pump from the condenser. -- Foot vise, a kind of vise the jaws of which are operated by a treadle. -- Foot waling (Naut.), the inside planks or lining of a vessel over the floor timbers. Totten. -- Foot wall (Mining), the under wall of an inclosed vein.

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      By foot, or On foot, by walking; as, to pass a stream on foot. -- Cubic foot. See under Cubic. -- Foot and mouth disease, a contagious disease (Eczema epizoötica) of cattle, sheep, swine, etc., characterized by the formation of vesicles and ulcers in the mouth and about the hoofs. -- Foot of the fine (Law), the concluding portion of an acknowledgment in court by which, formerly, the title of land was conveyed. See Fine of land, under Fine, n.; also Chirograph. (b). -- Square foot. See under Square. -- To be on foot, to be in motion, action, or process of execution. -- To keep the foot (Script.), to preserve decorum.Keep thy foot when thou goest to the house of God.” Eccl. v. 1. -- To put one's foot down, to take a resolute stand; to be determined. [Colloq.] -- To put the best foot foremost, to make a good appearance; to do one's best. [Colloq.] -- To set on foot, to put in motion; to originate; as, to set on foot a subscription. -- To put one on his feet, or set one on his feet, to put one in a position to go on; to assist to start. -- Under foot. (a) Under the feet; (Fig.) at one's mercy; as, to trample under foot. Gibbon. (b) Below par. [Obs.] “They would be forced to sell . . . far under foot.” Bacon.

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    Foot poundal . (Mech.) A unit of energy or work, equal to the work done in moving a body through one foot against the force of one poundal.
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