footingn.
/ˈfʊtɪŋ/, U.S. /ˈfʊdɪŋ/ I. The action of foot v.† 2. The action of making or replacing the foot of a shoe, boot, etc. Also: the action of knitting feet for stockings, or (later esp.) of operating a machine that does this. Obsolete (historical in later use).† 4. Recovery of a woman after childbirth. Cf. footing time n. at Compounds. Obsolete.
1. † b. Archery. The action or manner of standing in a particular position in order to shoot an arrow. Obsolete.
a. The action or an act of positioning the feet so as not to slip or stumble; stable positioning of the feet. Frequently with †fail, miss, or lose.
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the world > space > place > position or situation > [noun] > where one takes up a position, residence, etc. > stable position gained > stable position for the feet
footinga1398
foothold1577
a1398 J. Trevisa tr. Bartholomaeus Anglicus De Proprietatibus Rerum (BL Add. 27944) (1975) I. v. liv. 269 Þe sole of þe foot is fleisschy and pleyn forthwarde and bacwarde..to haue fotynge more redy [L. ut superposita facilius portarentur].
a1438 Bk. Margery Kempe (1940) i. 179 (MED) He slederyd er ellys faylyd of hys fotyng & fel down to þe grownd fro þe gresys.
c1500 Melusine (1895) 332 But footyng faylled hym, & [he] fell doun deed to the grounde.
a1529 J. Skelton Colyn Cloute (?1545) sig. D.ii Stande sure & take good fotyng.
1611 E. Aston tr. J. Boemus Manners, Lawes, & Customes i. vi. 45 If at any time their footing fayle them, yet will they claspe theyr hands about the twiggs, and so saue and defend them-selues from falling.
1672 J. Dryden Conquest Granada i. iv. ii. 51 Fear makes men look aside, and then their footing miss.
a1721 M. Prior Turtle & Sparrow (1723) 366 Her footing chanc'd to fail And down she fell.
1798 E. Day Poems Var. Subj. 92 Be sure to keep a steady footing, It is all enchanted ground.
1810 W. Scott Lady of Lake i. 18 Unless he climb, with footing nice, A far projecting precipice.
1869 C. Gibbon Robin Gray I. iv. 62 Come awa, Dawnie, and mind your futting.
1940 Monessen (Pa.) Daily Independent 25 July 5/8 Soose came on to fight on even terms in the eighth—which saw Overlin miss his footing on the rain-slippery canvas.
1983 Canberra Times 22 Jan. 6 She climbed a tree to get a better view and lost her footing.
2004 J. Mansell One you really Want xx. 108 Nancy promptly lost her footing and went over backwards.
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the world > space > relative position > posture > position of specific body parts > [noun] > legs
stridingc1440
footing1545
straddle1611
stridea1627
straddling1673
1545 R. Ascham Toxophilus ii. f. 31 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 hys vse.
1856 H. A. Ford Archery ix. 62 The footing must be firm, yet at the same time easy and springy.
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the world > textiles and clothing > clothing > tailoring or making clothes > making other clothing > [noun] > making hosiery > processes involved in
footing1440
Promptorium Parvulorum (Harl. 221) 174 Fotynge, peditacio.
1465 in Manners & Househ. Expenses Eng. (1841) 302 Fotynge [v.r. The same day my mastyr paid hym for forfotynge of a payre botes].
1675 F. Fane Love in Dark ii. 28 From riding the Great Horse, to Footing of Stockings! these travelling Frenchmen are like their Pottages, made up of every thing.
1805 Ann. Rev. 3 65 Weaving, footing, and grafting silk stockings..are mostly performed by women.
1882 S. F. A. Caulfeild & B. C. Saward Dict. Needlework 212/2 Footing. A term employed in the Knitting of stockings.
1929 W. F. Neff Victorian Working Women iii. 92 Footing was done chiefly by women and young persons.
3. † b. The action or an act of walking, running, or stepping; a step. Also in to set (or put) (a) footing: to set foot (in, on a place); to enter. Obsolete.† c. spec. The action of setting foot upon land. Obsolete. rare.† d. The stamping of hop flowers into large canvas bags for preservation. Obsolete.
a. A person's footwork during dancing; dancing. Also: †a dance (obsolete).
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society > leisure > dancing > [noun]
hoppingc1290
dancec1300
dancinga1340
sallyingc1440
footinga1450
balla1571
tracing1577
orchestra1596
measuring1598
dancery?1615
saltation1623
tripudiation1623
poetry of motion (also the foot)1654
light fantastic1832
rug-cutting1937
terping1942
society > leisure > dancing > [noun] > a dance
chore1382
dance1393
measure?c1430
virlyc1430
tracec1450
platfoot1559
hop-about1593
firk1637
footing1652
ballet1786
stand-up1861
a1450 (?c1430) J. Lydgate Daunce Machabree (Huntington) (1931) l. 507 This newe daunce is to me so straunge..The dredful fotyng dothe so ofte chaunge.
1561 T. Hoby Breef Rehersall in tr. B. Castiglione Courtyer sig. Zz.i To daunce well without ouer nimble footinges or to busie trickes.
1596 J. Davies Orchestra xiv. sig. A5 My feete..Did neuer yet the Art of footing know.
1652 E. Peyton Divine Catastrophe Stuarts 29 Queen Anne, who had trod so many stately footings in masks of Court.
1680 Love Lost in Dark iii. in Muse New-market 36 Let your eye be riveted to my heels, and miss not a hair, breadth of my footing: our Dance has a most melodious note.
1762 O. Goldsmith Citizen of World I. 226 A squire from the country..desirous of learning the new manner of footing.
1783 H. Swinburne Trav. in Two Sicilies I. 60 The Tarantella is a low dance, consisting of turns on the heel, much footing and snapping of the fingers.
1845 Encycl. Metrop. XIV. 262/1 The movements..are nothing but the bending and unbending of the two ends of the semicircle, with some very slow footing, and now and then a hop.
1952 Washington Post 14 Dec. vi. 1/7 The frisky spoofing was enhanced by her fancy footing.
2003 L. A. G. Palazzolo Horn Man xxvii. 314/1 This couple..are on the floor the entire afternoon, dancing to every number in every set, entertaining the crowd with their fancy footing.
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the world > movement > progressive motion > walking > [noun]
gangeOE
walkinga1325
ambulation1554
footing1567
sashaying1935
the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > going or coming in > go or come in [verb (intransitive)]
to go ineOE
ingoc900
to come inOE
incomec1000
infarec1000
enterc1325
enderc1330
ingressc1330
entera1382
to fall inc1384
usha1400
to get ina1425
to step in1534
to set (or put) (a) footing1567
invade1590
to take in1595
to hop in (also out)1914
society > travel > aspects of travel > going on foot > [noun]
walkinga1325
spacingc1485
ambulation1554
footing1567
hoofing1652
Shanks' (or Shanks's) mare, ponya1774
pedestrianizing1799
pedestrianism1808
ankle express1887
the world > movement > progressive motion > walking > [noun] > stepping > a step, pace, or tread
stepsc1000
pacea1350
treadc1400
footstepc1440
treadingsc1440
footing1567
traces1613
footfalla1616
1567 G. Turberville tr. Ovid Heroycall Epist. f. 85v The Princely Pallas, all at once set footing on the sand [L. graminibus..inposuere pedes].
1582 R. Stanyhurst tr. Virgil First Foure Bookes Æneis iii. 61 He stutted, apaled: And fixt his footing.
1604 E. Grimeston tr. J. de Acosta Nat. & Morall Hist. Indies iii. xv. 163 For that man hath not so long a sight, nor so nimble and swift footing as were needeful.
?1611 G. Chapman tr. Homer Iliads x. 294 This man makes footing towards thee, Out of the tents.
a1616 W. Shakespeare Henry VI, Pt. 2 (1623) iii. ii. 87 Seeke not a Scorpions Nest, Nor set no footing on this vnkinde Shore. View more context for this quotation
1637 G. Daniel Genius of Isle 431 Recall thy footings thence, Wander not in Darke waies.
1642 Remonstr. concerning Church & Kingdom Ireland 7 They will, with the assistance of Spaine and France, set footing in England.
1735 T. C. Phillips Happy Courtezan 5 Prude R—..had Eunuchs tasted, long before You e'er set Footing on the British Shore.
1791 A. Clinton Morality I. xxiv. 272 Whosoever acknowledges Jesus Christ for his master, should not put footing into this school.
1820 J. Keats Isabella in Lamia & Other Poems 60 Towards him they bent Their footing through the dews.
1888 I. R. Baxley Prophet & Other Poems 52 The footing of their noiseless feet.
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society > travel > travel by water > [noun] > landing or leaving ship
landingc1440
landage1470
avalea1547
disbarking1598
disembarkment1598
disembarking1611
footinga1616
debarkmenta1739
debarkation1756
disembarkationa1776
shore-going1846
a1616 W. Shakespeare Othello (1622) ii. i. 77 The bold Iago. Whose footing here anticipates our thoughts A sennights speede. View more context for this quotation
ΚΠ
1876 Encycl. Brit. IV. 273/1 ‘Footing’, that is, letting the empty bag drop through the floor, and having the hops stamped down by one man, whilst two others filled.
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the world > life > source or principle of life > birth > confinement > [noun] > childbirth or delivery > recovery after
footing1566
'biggening1673
footing time1673
1566 W. Painter Palace of Pleasure I. xxiii. f. 46 He asked the wife how she did, and praied the Goddes to sende her good footyng, and then inquired of her trauell, and painful panges.
5. Scottish and Irish English. The action of extracting or collecting turf or peat. Also: a stack or heap of turf or peat resulting from this.
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1780 A. Young Tour Ireland i. 353 Cutting turf, footing, &c. 12s. the 120 kish.
1825 J. Jamieson Etymol. Dict. Sc. Lang. Suppl. Fittings, turfs set on edge.
1842 S. C. Hall & A. M. Hall Ireland II. 263 ‘Footing’, which means collecting the turf into parcels of about six each.
1880 W. H. Patterson Gloss. Words Antrim & Down Footins, small heaps of cut peat.
1908 P. F. Jones Shamrock-land vi. 169 The turf is then rickled. A rickle contains about ten footings or sixty turfs.
1952 Southern Star (County Cork, Ireland) 9 Aug. 5/6 The Irish Turf Development Board produces some 120,000 tons of turf a year, and hitherto..the ‘footing’..had to be done by manual labour.
2002 Church Times 1 Nov. 21/3 (caption) Photograph of Irish women cutting turf (or ‘footing’, as it was known) in 1910.
II. Concrete senses.
6.
a. A surface (stable or otherwise) on which to stand, walk, etc. Also as a mass noun.
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the world > space > relative position > support > [noun] > that which supports > foothold or support for the foot
footingc1425
foothold1577
c1425 J. Lydgate Troyyes Bk. (Augustus A.iv) i. l. 1890 (MED) Vnsure fotyng doth hem ofte slide.
a1464 J. Capgrave Abbreuiacion of Cron. (Cambr. Gg.4.12) (1983) 245 Betwix hem was a lond new heried, where was euel fotyng.
1598 W. Shakespeare Henry IV, Pt. 1 i. iii. 191 To orewalke a Current roring lowd, On the vnstedfast footing of a speare. View more context for this quotation
1626 T. May tr. Lucan Pharsalia iii. sig. E5 The Roman ships slow keel'd would firmely stand, And lend sure footing like a fight by land.
1789 F. Burney Diary 8 July (1842) V. 34 I am delighted with the soft air and soft footing upon the sands.
1810 W. Scott Lady of Lake iv. 173 Where scarce was footing for the goat.
1824 R. Heber Jrnl. 19 Oct. in Narr. Journey Upper Provinces India (1828) I. xv. 370 It was probable we should find safe footing.
1891 Amer. Angler May 346/1 The left bank, where the footing is fairly good.
1912 Charleroi (Pa.) Mail 9 Jan. Glazed with ice, sidewalks presented a precarious footing for pedestrians.
1954 Longreach (Queensland) Leader 29 Jan. 7 The earth continually breaking up to leave long furrows and an uneven footing for the bowler in his approach to the wicket.
1996 R. Collignon Jrnl. Antonio Montoya ii. 10 At the cemetery the footing was so treacherous that..one of the pallbearers slipped.
b. A notch or ledge where a person's foot can be lodged; foothold. Now rare.
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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 > parts of building > stairs > [noun] > step
stepc825
treadlea1000
stopelc1200
degreec1290
passa1400
pace1423
grece1448
stair1530
footing1725
stair-step1794
gradin1839
1725 D. Defoe New Voy. round World ii. 96 We, by Footings made in the Rocks, descended, as we might say, down a Pair of Stairs.
1855 Child's Friend 25 11 He explained to Edmund that they might make themselves footings in the rock, and so climb to the top.
1989 W. B. Lincoln Red Victory 526 An alpenstock, the pick-shaped axe used by mountain climbers to cut footings in rock or ice.
7. † b. figurative. An example or precedent set by someone or something; a vestige, trace, or indication. Cf. footstep n. 2. Obsolete.
a. A footprint, or footprints collectively; a trail of footprints. Now rare.
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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
1563 J. Ribaut Whole & True Discov. Terra Florida sig. B.iij Hartes, Hyndes, Buckes, wylde Swyne, & all other kyndes wylde beastes, as we perceyued well bothe by theyr footyng there, &..by theyr crye.
1575 G. Gascoigne Noble Arte Venerie xxii. 64 Let him firste marke what manner of Slotte or footing it is.
1727 R. Bradley Chomel's Dictionaire Oeconomique (Dublin ed.) at Hart The Tracts or Footing of divers sorts of Beasts.
1758 J. Upton in Spenser's Faerie Queene I. Gloss. at Tract By tracing, or by the track and footing.
1847 F. Marryat Children of New Forest I. v. 88 See, here is her footing.
1864 Ld. Tennyson Aylmer's Field in Enoch Arden, etc. 56 The fairy footings on the grass.
1921 J. Buchan Path of King xii. 237 Slowly and painfully he traced the footing, which led through the thicket towards a long ridge.
1972 Evening Telegram (St. John's, Newfoundland) 19 May 3/1 I have never seen a moose's footing that size before.
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society > communication > indication > marking > a mark > trace or vestige > [noun]
signa1382
stepa1382
ficchingc1384
marka1400
tracesc1400
scentc1422
footstep?a1425
tidinga1440
relicc1475
smell?a1505
stead1513
vestigy1545
print1548
token1555
remnant1560
show1561
mention1564
signification1576
footing?1580
tract1583
remainder1585
vestige1602
wrack1602
engravement1604
footstepping1610
resent1610
ghost1613
impression1613
remark1624
footprint1625
studdle1635
vestigium1644
relict1646
perception1650
vestigiary1651
track1657
symptom1722
signacle1768
ray1773
vestigia1789
footmark1800
souvenir1844
latent1920
?1580 I. K. in tr. P. M. Vermigli Briefe Treat. conc. Vse & Abuse Dauncing To Rdr. sig. A.vii Our bounden duety it is, to follow the footings of our Forefathers in theyr vertuous actions.
a1586 Sir P. Sidney Apol. Poetrie (1595) sig. D2 I onely bid you follow the footing of them than haue gone before you.
1628 R. Sanderson Two Serm. Paules-Crosse i. 8 God hath Imprinted,..some steps and footings of his goodnes in the Creatures.
a1656 J. Hales Golden Remains (1659) 180 One lesson would I especially commend unto you; to be perpetually Jealous and suspicious of your thoughts,..easily to trace the footing of sin.
1744 T. Birch Life R. Boyle 1 The first footing, that we find of them [sc. Robert Boyle's family] in the county of Hereford, was at Pixely court.
1841 I. D'Israeli Amenities Lit. I. 110 In Normandy we trace the first footings of our national power.
8. † b. The lower projecting part of an object, which serves to support it; = foot n. 16. Obsolete.† c. Typography. The fine line or serif at the bottom of a letter. Cf. topping n.1 5. Obsolete.
a. Material used to provide boots, stockings, etc., with feet. Also: the part of a stocking below the ankle. rare.
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society > occupation and work > materials > derived or manufactured material > leather > [noun] > leather for boots or shoes
sole-leather1408
clout-leathera1500
bend-leather1581
footing1591
upper leather1629
capping-leathera1642
shoe leather1660
crop-sole1824
pannus corium1841
shoe-butt1858
rough stuff1860
zug1899
the world > textiles and clothing > textiles > textile fabric or an article of textile fabric > textile fabric > textile fabric for specific purpose > [noun] > for clothing > for other specific items of clothing
bleauntc1314
hosing1340
tays1350
belting1567
gartering1571
footing1707
girdling1720
petticoating1738
lungi1779
Bath-coating1791
trousering1830
costuming1833
jacketing1847
skirting1882
kitenge1960
1591 R. Percyvall Bibliotheca Hispanica Dict. at Cabeçado New footings of bootes.
1707 J. Stevens tr. F. de Quevedo Comical Wks. (1709) 222 It waits to be converted into Footing for Stockings.
2007 S. M. Strawn Knitting Amer. iv. 59/2 The caretaker for the Girl's Order..knit eleven pairs of stockings and twenty-two pairs of ‘footings’.
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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
1659 G. Torriano Florio's Vocabolario Italiano & Inglese Fústo, the shank, the supporter, the stalk or footing of any thing.
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society > communication > printing > printed matter > printed character(s) > [noun] > bottom or footing
footing1676
foot line1676
foot stroke1676
base1827
1676 J. Moxon Regulæ Trium Ordinum 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 J. Moxon Mech. Exercises II. 126 The Footing, is the straight fine Stroak or Stroaks that lie in the Foot-Line of Letters.
d. Lacemaking. A narrow edging, usually of lace net.
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the world > textiles and clothing > clothing > parts of clothing > [noun] > trimmings or ornamentation > other > parts of
footing1692
the world > textiles and clothing > textiles > textile fabric or an article of textile fabric > ornamental textiles > ornamental trimmings > [noun] > lace > part of
footing1692
mayflower1924
1692 London Gaz. No. 2733/4 One..Petticoat, having 3 black Fringes, with Footings.
1697 London Gaz. No. 3250/4 3 yards of Silver Lace and Footing.
1739 E. Purefoy Let. in Purefoy Lett. 8 Apr. (1931) I. v. 116 Pray send mee 3 yards of silver lace an inch & an half wide with a scallop on one side & a plain footing on ye other side.
1865 F. B. Palliser Hist. Lace xix. 230 Château-Renaud and Mézières were chiefly employed in the manufacture of footings.
1882 S. F. A. Caulfeild & B. C. Saward Dict. Needlework 212/2 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.
1922 Woman's World (Chicago) Nov. 32/2 Above the insertion of lace is a puff of blondé footing.
1952 N.Y. Amsterdam News 23 Feb. 8 Net footing makes a better hem finish on fine fabrics than ribbon binding or seam tape.
2003 M. C. Raffel Laces of Ipswich 70 The foot, footside, footing, engrelure, or sewing edge is the straight edge on a length of lace that is intended to be sewn or attached to another fabric.
e. Archery. A piece of hard wood dovetailed on to the shaft at the point end of an arrow.
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society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > competitive shooting > archery > [noun] > target arrow > parts of
saddleback1545
footing1856
crest1929
1856 H. 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.
1887 W. Butt Ford's Theory & Pract. Archery (rev. ed.) iii. 37 Great care should be taken..that the footing exactly fits the pile, so as to fill entirely the inside of it.
1931 Pop. Sci. Monthly Aug. 94/3 When footings are used, they are of beefwood, greenheart, lemonwood, lancewood, straight-grained walnut, or other very hard, strong wood.
1993 Field & Stream Dec. 34/3 He provides compressed cedar shafts..with wenge, Osage orange, or beefwood footings (tip reinforcements).
9. Architecture. A projecting course at the base of a wall or other structure that acts as a reinforced foundation; the reinforced base or foundation of an upright structure. Usually in plural.
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society > occupation and work > industry > building or constructing > building or providing with specific parts > specific parts built or constructed > [noun] > foundation(s)
staddlea900
ground-stathelnessa1300
foundation1398
groundsel1433
ground-pinning1448
underpinning1538
groundworka1557
footing1611
substruction1624
under-filling1624
substructure1726
found1818
pinninga1825
well1832
soling1838
masonite1840
ground-statheling-
1611 R. Cotgrave Dict. French & Eng. Tongues Forjecture, the coping, or water table of a wall; a rellish, or footing out of a wall, or from a foundation.
1700 Moxon's Mech. Exercises: Bricklayers-wks. 17 All Walls ought to have a Basis, or footing, at least 4 Inches on a side broader than the thickness of the Wall.
1838 F. W. Simms Public Wks. Great Brit. 25 The footings of the abutments will be 18 inches below the level.
1881 F. Young Every Man his own Mechanic §23 He should get a bricklayer to show him..how to put in the footings of his wall.
1906 J. J. Cosgrove Princ. & Pract. Plumbing 63 A line of field tile is laid around the outside of the foundation wall below the foundation footings.
1943 Triumphs of Engin. 141/2 The cantilever towers of the Quebec Bridge..are pivoted upon cylindrical shoes based upon massive steel footings, bolted to the masonry supports.
2003 Log Home Design Ideas Jan. 62/1 When an inspector tells you your foundation footings aren't deep enough.., there's a reason.
10. A fee or liquor demanded of a person on entering a new position of employment or being admitted to a trade, society, etc. Frequently in to pay (for) (one's) footing. Now historical.
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society > trade and finance > fees and taxes > [noun] > entrance fee > for joining society, guild, or group
Hanse1200
ingress1607
footing1692
livery fine1701
garnish1759
chummage1777
1692 J. Dunton Visions of Soul xxv. 126 Force 'em to the last shift of paying their Footing, (which is, Breaking,) and commencing Projector themselves.
1710 Brit. Apollo 21–24 Apr. Young..Sinners..not yet of Age to pay for their Footing in St. James's Park.
1777 J. Howard State Prisons Eng. & Wales 16 A cruel custom obtains in most of our gaols, which is that of the prisoners demanding of a new comer, garnish, footing, or (as it is called in some of the London gaols) chummage.
1847 W. Dodd Laboring Classes Eng. ii. 22 Jimmy had to comply with the evil and pernicious practice of paying footing.
1864 A. Trollope Small House at Allington I. ii. 19 Mr. Crosbie..had to pay half a crown for his footing to the haymakers.
1887 A. A. Anderson Twenty-five Years in Waggon II. 207 Each member had to..pay his footing in the way of a certain quantity of brandy or square face (gin).
1923 Observer 11 Feb. 14 The boy will have to pay his footing, and, unhappily, in the modern public-house there is only one sort of commodity on sale.
1986 W. J. Rorabaugh Craft Apprentice v. 104 The molders demanded that the new apprentice follow custom and provide a footing—that is, one day's supply of liquor to all the molders in the foundry.
11. A place hollowed out or otherwise prepared for receiving the foot of a timber or the like.
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > relative position > low position > [noun] > condition of being placed under > that which lies under > base on which a thing rests
staddlea900
groundc950
base?c1335
standinga1382
foundation1398
basingc1400
bottom1440
subjecta1500
groundworka1557
basis?a1560
pedestal1563
understand1580
footwork1611
centrea1616
underwork1624
skaddle1635
substructure1641
foot piece1657
pediment1660
seat1661
sedes1662
under-warp1668
plantationa1680
terrace1735
substructure1789
footing1791
seating1805
1791 J. Smeaton Narr. Edystone Lighthouse §72 In the center of the house a slight footing was cut for the mast, suitable to a square of 18 inches.
1845 Civil Engineer & Architect's Jrnl. 8 27/1 Care being taken to cut footings in the soil perpendicular to the face of the slope.
1917 Coal Age 10 Nov. 801/3 This plan is to cut footings in the clay and erect posts in these footings, leaning the posts a little toward the center of the roadway.
1985 Rescue News Summer 6/4 Shallow stone footings were observed..which apparently bore sleeper-beams.
2007 M. O'Mansky & A. A. Demarest in R. J. Chacon & R. G. Mendoza Lat. Amer. Indigenous Warfare & Ritual Violence i. 15 Most walls were low mounds of earth and rubble that served as footings for wooden palisades.
12. Chiefly Bookkeeping. The sum resulting from adding a column of numbers together, typically recorded directly below the final entry in that column.
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > number > arithmetic or algebraic operations > [noun] > summing or addition > adding columns
cast?1578
footing1800
1800 D. Cook Amer. Arithm. 16 Begin at the top of the right hand column, and add them downwards, and set down your footing of the sum under the first footing.
1857 I. R. Butts Business Man's Adviser 128 Place the footings of both columns on parallel lines, and draw a diagonal line across the vacant space.
1911 Mag. Business 19 52/2 After six hours of blood-sweating, the final footings showed a total of $164.56.
1957 Monroe County (Illinois) Clarion 23 Jan. 1/6 The balance sheet shows total footings of $63,837.23.
2013 Cato Jrnl. 33 374 The concept of the Fed ‘printing money’ as measured by the monetary base or the Fed's balance sheet footings doesn't have the same meaning as in the past.
13. Whaling. The finer detached fragments of refuse whale blubber. Now historical and rare.
ΚΠ
1820 W. Scoresby Acct. Arctic Regions II. 402 The greasy animal matter called footje or footing.
1858 P. L. Simmonds Dict. Trade Products Footing, the finer detached fragments of the fenks, or refuse whale blubber, not wholly deprived of oil.
1993 J. J. Burns et al. Bowhead Whale xiii. 517 At home port the refuse left after trying out, known as ‘fenks’ and ‘footing’, was occasionally used to make fertilizer.
III. A basis or standing.
14. The underlying basis or foundation of an idea, argument, etc. Now rare or merged with sense 16.
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
Promptorium Parvulorum (Harl. 221) 174 Fotynge, or fundament, fundamentum.
1581 J. Bell tr. W. Haddon & J. Foxe Against Jerome Osorius 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.
a1617 S. Hieron Present for Caesar in Wks. (1620) II. 441 A thing for which we find no footing in the scripture.
1674 N. Fairfax Treat. Bulk & Selvedge 46 This way of speaking has so good footing, that in the Book of books it self, we find not only the same oftentimes, but even a step beyond it sometimes.
1744 tr. J. P. Purry Method Determining Best Climate Earth 6 If this was the Case [sc. that France is the finest Country], it would then follow upon that Footing, that all the other Countries of Europe would be equal.
1778 E. Hasted Hist. Kent I. in Crit. Rev. Dec. 404 There remains no footing of this right at this day.
1820 F. L. Holt Shipping & Navig. Laws II. iii. vi. 169 There being no possession reserved to the owner, there is no footing or foundation for the right or exercise of lien for freight.
1929 R. Bridges Test. Beauty i. 15 'Tis there the footing of all our temples and of all science and art.
1956 Times of India 29 Dec. 4/7 On this footing, they have come to the conclusion that..Telco's costs do not compare unfavourably.
2011 Sunday Gleaner (Kingston, Jamaica) 9 Jan. a9/2 It is illogical to refute all arguments for the CCJ [= Caribbean Court of Justice] solely on the footing that nationalism is not sufficient grounds.
15. A firm or secure position from which further progress may be made; = foothold n. 2.
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > place > position or situation > [noun] > fixed or stable
footing1567
foothold1577
fixure1603
fixation1614
ubi1614
handhold1643
the world > time > change > absence of change, changelessness > stability, fixity > [noun] > established position
footc1425
footing1567
1567 W. Painter Palace of Pleasure II. xxii. f. 156v The state of gouernment taketh so good footing, as the wind of no sedition afterwards can remoue the same.
a1568 R. Ascham Scholemaster (1570) i. f. 29v The bloodie Inquisitors in Italie...Their care and charge is..onelie to watch and ouersee that Christes trewe Religion set no sure footing, where the Pope hath any Iurisdiction.
1586 F. Walsingham Let. 4 Mar. in J. Spottiswood Hist. Church Scotl. (1655) 361 In former times, when England had a footing in France.
1642 T. Fuller Holy State v. xii. 407 A lie cursorily told takes little footing..in the tellers memory.
1710 G. Berkeley Treat. Princ. Human Knowl. §55 Those notions have gained but a very inconsiderable footing in the world.
1815 W. H. Ireland Scribbleomania 120 This clerical baronet has vainly endeavoured to gain a footing upon the theatrical boards.
1869 A. Trollope He knew he was Right I. xxii. 178 She had made good her footing in her aunt's house.
1900 J. Robinson Life Time in S. Afr. 361 There still remained the undefined country..lying between Zululand and Delagoa Bay, and it was therein that President Kruger hoped to secure a footing on the seaboard.
1940 Times of India 10 Feb. 14/6 Only a few recorded facts reveal how the descendants of the ‘pilgrim fathers’ found a footing in India.
2007 V. Smith Clean vii. 196 Protestantism within the British Isles..found a secure footing at local level.
16. The conditions or arrangements on which something is established or organized; the position or status due or assigned to a person or thing in relation to others. Formerly also: †the degree of intimacy, favour, etc., accorded to a person (obsolete). Frequently with premodifying adjective expressing the nature of this relation, as same, equal, etc.
ΘΚΠ
society > society and the community > social class > [noun]
estatec1230
statec1300
rowa1350
qualityc1425
calling1477
range1494
line1528
stature1533
respect1601
station1603
gradationa1616
ordinancea1616
repute1615
spherea1616
distance1635
impression1639
civils1650
footing1657
regimen1660
order1667
sect1709
caste1791
status1818
position1829
social status1833
standpoint1875
the world > existence and causation > existence > state or condition > [noun] > of an institution, etc.
foot1559
footing1657
the world > relative properties > relationship > equality or equivalence > [noun] > equal footing or par
footing1657
par1662
parity of esteem1943
society > society and the community > social relations > [noun] > degree of intimacy or relative status
footing1742
1657 O. Cromwell Speech 21 Apr. in T. Carlyle Lett. & Speeches (1845) II. 561 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.
1658 T. Burton Diary (1828) II. 440 It is not long since they got the title of Lords. Anciently, all were upon one footing of account.
1695 J. Cary Ess. State Eng. 104 By how much more charges are added to the Products of Ireland..so much will ours be put on the same Footing with them, and bear a better price.
1741 tr. Marquis d'Argens Chinese Lett. xx. 136 They resolved to put the Chinese on the same Footing as the Dutch.
1742 H. Fielding Joseph Andrews I. ii. iv. 161 Horatio and Lenora were what they call on a good footing together. View more context for this quotation
1766 O. Goldsmith Vicar of Wakefield II. i. 12 I was admitted to his table upon the footing of half-friend, half-underling.
1769 W. Draper in ‘Junius’ Stat Nominis Umbra (1772) I. ii. 23 The army..was never upon a more respectable footing with regard to discipline.
1813 J. Austen Pride & Prejudice II. xv. 182 You see on what a footing we are. View more context for this quotation
1817 J. Mill Hist. Brit. India II. v. iv. 424 Mahomed Ali was..placed upon the footing of an ally of the King of Great Britain.
1861 T. Hughes Tom Brown at Oxf. I. i. 6 The eldest sons of baronets..were scarcely admitted on any other footing [than as gentlemen-commoners].
1916 D. Haig Diary 31 Oct. in War Diaries & Lett. 1914–18 (2005) 250 The Reserve Army has been given the extra services and staff to place it on the same footing as the other armies.
1960 A. H. Benade Horns, Strings, & Harmony v. 89 Composers..preach the extremist dogma of the ‘twelve-tone scale’, in which every note is on an even footing with every other one.
2011 Yuma (Arizona) Sun 30 Apr. a2/2 I get the chance to meet and speak with business owners on an equivalent footing.
Compounds
footing ale n. (a) alcoholic drink or money for this given as a footing (sense 10) (now chiefly historical); †(b) Scottish alcoholic drink or some other gift given to the parents of a child who has recently taken his or her first steps (obsolete).
ΚΠ
1824 W. Carr Horæ Momenta Cravenæ 75 Footing-ale, liquor or money given by a person on entering a new employment.
1825 J. Jamieson Etymol. Dict. Sc. Lang. Suppl. Fittin-ale, an entertainment given by parents, when they have a child that taks the fit or foot, i.e. begins to walk.
1870 Temperance Rec. 1 Jan. 9/2 What, no footing ale? it won't do, that.
1920 C. R. Fay Life & Labour in 19th Cent. xv. 190 The day a man entered the pit's company, he paid 1s. for footing ale.
1992 L. Dunkling Guinness Drinking Compan. 104/2 Any stranger in a rural community might also be asked to stand his footing ale. Some parents had a footing ale when their child took its first steps.
ΚΠ
1808 Farmer's Mag. June 178 The building is 113½ feet long, 30 feet wide, and 20 feet high under the footing beam.
1842 J. Gwilt Encycl. Archit. Gloss. 976 Footing Beam, the name given, in some of the provinces, to the tie beam of a roof.
ΚΠ
1819 P. Nicholson Archit. Dict. II. 10/2 Footing Dormant, the tie-beam of a roof; the term is used in Westmoreland.
1846 W. M. Buchanan Technol. Dict. Footing Dormant in carpentry, a name for the tie-beam of a roof.
1904 A. C. Passmore Handbk. Techn. Terms Archit. & Building 350/1 The beam in a roof truss which connects the bottom of a pair of principal rafters; formerly called ‘footing beam’, ‘footing dormant’, ‘roof beam’, ‘chamber beam’ and ‘binding beam’.
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > place > position or situation > [noun] > position for standing in
standing placec1425
fundamenta1450
standinga1450
podisma1460
footing placea1568
pou sto1831
a1568 R. Ascham Rep. & Disc. Affaires Germany (?1570) f. 14v The Duke of Saxonie receiued such kindnes, as no Prince in Germany for all respectes in yt case was able to affourde hym: as first he had his whole countrey of Bauiere for a sure footyng place.
1611 J. Speed Hist. Great Brit. ix. xii. 575/1 The possession of the City of Vannes..the Englishmen still kept, that..they might haue some hold and certaine footing-place.
1697 J. Dryden tr. Virgil Georgics ii, in tr. Virgil Wks. 72 Some cloven Stakes, and (wond'rous to behold,) Their sharpen'd ends in Earth their footing place, And the dry Poles produce a living Race. View more context for this quotation
1777 W. Young Spirit of Athens ii. x. 261 Philip..doubted not with his footing place in the Chersonese, of soon mastering too the rest of that peninsula.
?a1828 D. Wordsworth Jrnl. Tour Continent in Jrnls. (1941) II. 288 A gulph..towards the edge of which our footing-place..sloped directly.
1891 O. Wilde Decay of Lying (rev. ed.) in Intentions 26 Facts are not merely finding a footing-place in history, but they are usurping the domain of Fancy.
ΘΚΠ
the world > life > source or principle of life > birth > confinement > [noun] > childbirth or delivery > recovery after
footing1566
'biggening1673
footing time1673
1673 J. Ray S. & E. Countrey Words in Coll. Eng. Words 66 Footing time, Norf. is the same with upsetting time in Yorksh. when the Puerpera gets up.
1694 N. H. Ladies Dict. 235/2 Footing-time, Nf. When the Child-bed Woman gets up.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, March 2016; most recently modified version published online June 2022).
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n.a1398