| 释义 |
footing, vbl. n.|ˈfʊtɪŋ|
[f. foot v. + -ing1.]
1. a. The act of walking, pacing, or stepping; a step or tread. Now rare. † to set footing: to set foot (in, on a place), to enter. (Also fig.)
1583Stanyhurst æneis iii. (Arb.) 89 He stutted, apaled And fixt his footing. 1593Shakes. 2 Hen. VI, iii. ii. 87 Seeke not a Scorpions Nest Nor set a footing on this vnkinde Shore. 1606― Tr. & Cr. ii. ii. 155 Can it be, That so degenerate a straine as this, Should once set footing in your generous bosomes? 1604E. G. Acosta's Hist. Indies iii. xv. 163 For that man hath not so long a sight, nor so nimble and swift footing as were needeful. c1611Chapman Iliad x. 294 This man makes footing towards thee, Out of the tents. 1637G. Daniel Genius of Isle 431 Recall thy footings thence, Wander not in Darke waies. 1642Remonst. conc. Ch. & Kingd. Irel. 7 They will, with the assistance of Spaine and France, set footing in England. 1820Keats Isabella xxiii, Towards him they bent their footing through the dews.
†b. The action of setting foot upon land.
1604Shakes. Oth. ii. i. 76 The bold Iago, Whose footing heere anticipates our thoughts, A Senights speed.
c. Moving with measured tread, dancing; † also, a dance.
1561Hoby tr. Castiglione's Courtyer (1577) Y v b, To daunce well without ouer nimble footings or to busy trickes. 1596Davies Orchestra xiv, My feet..Did neuer yet the Art of footing know. 1652Peyton Catastr. Ho. Stuarts (1731) 14 Queen Anne, who had trod so many stately Footings in Masks at Court. 1760Goldsm. Cit. W. lii. ⁋6 A squire from the country..desirous of learning the new manner of footing.
2. A mark or impression left by the foot; a footprint, or footprints collectively; a trace, track, trail. Also fig. (cf. footstep). Now rare.
1572tr. Buchanan's Detect. Mary Q. Scots M j, I will nat here precisely trace out all the footynges of the wickit doynges. 1576Turberv. Venerie 64 Let him firste marke what manner of Slotte or footing it is. 1579E. K. Ep. Ded. to Spenser's Sheph. Cal. §4 Poetes, whose foting this Author every where followeth. 1624Sanderson 12 Serm. (1637) 420 God hath imprinted..some steps and footings of his goodnesse in the Creatures. 1727Bradley Fam. Dict., s.v. Hart, The Tracts or Footing of divers sorts of Beasts. 1841D'Israeli Amen. Lit. (1867) 69 In Normandy we trace the first footings of our national power. 1847Marryat Childr. N. Forest v, See, here is her footing.
†3. Recovery (of a woman after confinement) ? Obs. exc. in footing-time (see 17). Cf. on foot.
1566Painter Pal. Pleas. I. 46 a, He asked the wife how she did, and praied the Goddes to send her good footyng, and then inquired of her trauell, and painful panges.
4. a. The action of placing the feet so as not to slip or stumble; stable position of the feet, foothold.
1398Trevisa Barth. De P.R. v. liv. (1495) 170 The sole of the fote is flesshly and playne forwarde and bakwarde to haue fotynge. c1500Melusine lv. 332 But footyng faylled hym, & [he] fell doun deed to the grounde. a1529Skelton Col. Cloute 1074 Stande sure and take good fotyng. 1670Dryden Conq. Granada i. iv. ii, Fear makes men look aside, and then their footing miss. 1708Prior Turtle & Sparrow 366 Her footing chanc'd to fail And down she fell. 1810Scott Lady of L. i. xiv, Unless he climb with footing nice, A far projecting precipice. 1869C. Gibbon R. Gray iv, ‘Come awa, Dawnie, and mind your futting.’
b. The action or manner of placing the feet for standing in a given position.
1545R. Ascham Toxoph. (Arb.) 147 The fyrste poynte is when a man shoulde shote, to take suche footyng and standyng as shal be both cumlye to the eye and profytable to his vse. 1856H. A. Ford Archery ix. 62 The footing must be firm, yet at the same time easy and springy.
5. a. Support for the foot; surface (favourable or the contrary) for walking or standing upon.
1596Shakes. 1 Hen. IV, i. iii. 193 To o'rewalk a Current, roaring loud, On the vnstedfast footing of a Speare. 1627May Lucan iii. 602 The Roman ships slow keel'd would firmely stand, And lend sure footing like a fight by land. 1789F. Burney Diary 8 July, I am delighted with the soft air and soft footing upon the sands. 1810Scott Lady of L. iv. xxi, Where scarce was footing for the goat. 1824Heber Jrnl. (1828) II. 44 It was probable we should find safe footing.
†b. A notch or ledge for the foot, a ‘step’. Obs.
1725De Foe Voy. round World (1840) 266 We, by footings made in the rocks, descended, as we might say, down a pair of stairs.
6. fig. Firm or secure position; established place; foothold, establishment.
1586Walsingham Let. 4 Mar. in Spottiswood Hist. Ch. Scot. (1655) 361 In former times, when England had a footing in France. 1642Fuller Holy & Prof. St. v. xii. 407 A lie cursorily told takes little footing..in the tellers memory. 1710Berkeley Princ. Hum. Knowl. §55 Those notions have gained but a very inconsiderable footing in the world. 1815W. H. Ireland Scribbleomania 120 This clerical baronet has vainly endeavoured to gain a footing upon the theatrical boards. 1869Trollope He knew xxii, She had made good her footing in her aunt's house.
†7. The foundation, ground, or basis on which anything rests or from which it springs. Obs.
1581J. Bell Haddon's Answ. Osor. 407 All which do come altogether to utter ruine, if Purgatory decay once: but if Purgatory hold fast, then are they all of good footing. a1617Hieron Wks. 1619 II. 441 A thing for which we find no footing in the scripture. 1674N. Fairfax Bulk & Selv. 46 This way of speaking has so good footing, that [etc.].
8. a. The conditions and arrangements, the understood state of things, on which an institution, etc. is established; the position or status due or assigned to a person, etc. in estimation or treatment. on the same, on one or a footing (with): on an equality.
1657Cromwell Sp. 21 Apr., I think we are now to consider, not what we are in regard to our Footing and that of the Government which called this Parliament. 1657–8Burton's Diary (1828) II. 440 It is not long since they got the title of Lords. Anciently, all were upon one footing of account. 1741tr. D'Argens Chinese Lett. XX. 136 They resolved to put the Chinese on the same Footing as the Dutch. 1769Junius Lett. No. 2 (1804) I. 24 n. 2 The army..was never upon a more respectable footing with regard to discipline. 1807–8Syd. Smith Plymley's Lett. Wks. 1859 II. 177/1 What the Catholics ask for is to be put on a footing with the Protestant Dissenters. 1818Jas. Mill Brit. India II. v. iv. 424 Mahomed Ali was..placed upon the footing of an ally of the King of Great Britain. 1861Hughes Tom Brown at Oxf. i. (1889) 3 The eldest sons of baronets..were scarcely admitted on any other footing [than as gentlemen-commoners]. 1894Times (weekly ed.) 9 Feb. 115/2 The Khedive..stands upon an altogether different footing from the Sultan.
b. The ‘terms’ on which a person stands in intercourse with another; degree of intimacy or favour; relative status (as an equal, superior, or inferior).
1742Fielding J. Andrews ii. iv, Horatio and Lenora were what they call on a good footing together. 1766Goldsm. Vic. W. xx, I was admitted to his table upon the footing of half friend, half underling. 1796Jane Austen Pride & Prej. v. 188 You see on what a footing we are.
9. Entrance on a new position, etc. (in phr. to pay for one's footing); hence, a fee demanded of a person on doing something for the first time or on being admitted to any trade, society, etc.
1710Brit. Apollo III. No. 12. 2/2 Young..Sinners..not yet of Age to pay for their Footing in St. James's Park. 1777[see chummage 2]. 1833Marryat P. Simple vii, ‘Hand out my footing! What does he mean?’ ‘He means that you must fork out a seven-shilling bit.’ 1862Trollope Small House at Allington ii, Mr. Crosbie..had to pay half a crown for his footing to the haymakers.
10. The action of putting a foot to anything.
1805W. Taylor in Ann. Rev. III. 65 Weaving, footing, and grafting silk stockings..are mostly performed by women. 1882Caulfeild & Saward Dict. Needlework, Footing, a term employed in the knitting of stockings.
11. concr. That with which something is ‘footed’.
a. Material used to ‘foot’ boots, stockings, etc.
1591Percivall Sp. Dict., Cabeçado, new footings of bootes. 1707J. Stevens Quevedo's Com. Wks. (1709) 222 It waits to be converted into Footing for Stockings.
†b. = foot n. 10.
1659Torriano, Fústo, the shank, the supporter, the stalk or footing of any thing.
c. Lace. (See quot. 1882.)
1692Lond. Gaz. No. 2733/4 One..Petticoat, having 3 black Fringes, with Footings. 1697Ibid. No. 3250/4, 3 yards of Silver Lace and Footing. 1869F. B. Palliser Lace xix. 215 Château-Renaud and Mézières were chiefly employed in the manufacture of footings. 1882Caulfeild & Saward Dict. Needlework, Footing..is used..to distinguish the edge of the Lace that is sewn to the dress from the scalloped and unattached edge. The Footing is sometimes worked with the rest of the design, and at others as a separate narrow lace, being then sewn on to the main part.
d. A piece of hard wood dovetailed on to the pile-end of an arrow.
1856H. A. Ford Archery v. 30 For footing, any hard wood will do; and if this be solid for one inch below the pile, it will be amply sufficient. 1887W. Butt Ford's Archery iii. 37 Great care should be taken..that the footing exactly fits the pile, so as to fill entirely the inside of it.
e. Printing, etc. (See quots.)
1676Moxon Print. Lett. 7 The Footing is the small Arches the Letter stands on, as the Arches upon the feet of Letter A is the Footing of that Letter. 1683― Mech. Exerc. II. 126 The Footing, is the straight fine Stroak or Stroaks that lie in the Foot-Line of Letters.
12. Arch. A projecting course or courses at the base or foundation of a wall or other erection to give it security.
1703Moxon Mech. Exerc. 255 All Walls ought to have a Basis, or Footing, at least 4 Inches on a side broader than the thickness of the Wall. 1838Simms Pub. Wks. Gt. Brit. 25 The footings of the abutments will be 18 inches below the level. 1881Young Every man his own mechanic §23 He should get a bricklayer to show him..how to put in the footings of his wall.
13. A place hollowed out or otherwise prepared for receiving the foot of a timber or the like.
1793Smeaton Edystone L. §88 In the center of the house a slight footing was cut for the mast, suitable to a square of 18 inches.
14. The action of adding up a column of figures, etc.; the result thus obtained, sum total.
1855H. Clarke Dict., Footing..reckoning..sum total. 1881Chicago Times 4 June, The final footings of the debt of all cities..of the United States..were made last week. 1884Harper's Mag. July 296/2 We could easily add twenty per cent. to the gross footings of the entire list.
15. The action of collecting turf; also, the heaps so formed. Sc. and Irish dial.
1802Findlater Agric. Peebles 209 The peats..are placed on end three or four together, and leaning against each other; this is called footing the peats. 1825Jamieson, Fittings, turfs set on edge. 1841S. C. Hall Ireland (1842) II. 263 note, ‘Footing’, which means collecting the turf into parcels of about six each. 1880Antrim & Down Gloss., Footins, small heaps of cut peat.
16. Whale-fishing. (See quot. 1858.)
1820Scoresby Acc. Arct. Reg. II. 402 The greasy animal matter called footje or footing. 1858Simmonds Dict. Trade, Footing, the finer detached fragments of the fenks, or refuse whale blubber, not wholly deprived of oil.
17. attrib. and Comb., as footing-place (also fig.); footing-ale (see quots.); footing beam, f. dormant, the tie-beam of a roof; footing-time (dial.), the time when a woman rises from childbed.
1824Craven Dialect 75 *Footing-ale, liquor or money given by a person on entering a new employment. 1825Jamieson, Fittin-ale, an entertainment given by parents when they have a child that taks the fit or foot, i.e., begins to walk.
1842Gwilt Encycl. Archit. Gloss., *Footing Beam, the name given, in some of the provinces, to the tie-beam of a roof.
1846Buchanan Techn. Dict., *Footing Dormant in carpentry, a name for the tie-beam of a roof.
1611Speed Hist. Gt. Brit. ix. xii. §74 The possession of the Citie of Vannes..the English-men still kept, that..they might haue some holde and certaine *footing-place. a1828D. Wordsworth Tour Continent in Jrnls. (1941) II. 288 A gulph..towards the edge of which our footing-place..sloped directly. 1891O. Wilde Intentions 26 Facts are not merely finding a footing-place in history, but they are usurping the domain of Fancy.
1674Ray S. & E.C. Words 66 *Footing time, Norf. is the same with upsetting time in Yorksh. when the Puerpera gets up. |