footstep
noun/ˈfʊtstɛp/
Etymology From Middle English fotstep, fotstappe, from Old English *fōtstepe, *fōtstæpe (attested only in derivative fōtstappel (“footstep”)), equivalent to foot + step. Cognate with Saterland Frisian Foutstappe (“footstep”), West Frisian fuotstap (“footstep”), Dutch voetstap (“footstep”).
7 senses
- 1The mark or impression left by a foot; a track.
- 2The indications or waypoints of a course or direction taken.
- 3The sound made by walking, running etc.
- 4A step, as in a stair.
- 5The distance between one foot and the next when walking; a pace.
- 6The act of taking a step.
- 7An inclined plane under a hand printing press.
1
The mark or impression left by a foot; a track.
- The child watched as his footsteps in the sand were washed away by the waves.
2
Broadly, Figuratively, Sometimes The indications or waypoints of a course or direction taken.
- To walk the footsteps of greatness requires that you start at the bottom of a long stair.
- follow in someone's footsteps
3
The sound made by walking, running etc.
- The footsteps of the students echoed in the empty hall.
- Hear footsteps creak the floor / The shadows give away / Someone outside the door / Won't let 'em in2009, “A Looking In View”, in Jerry Cantrell (lyrics), Black Gives Way To Blue, performed by Alice in Chains, Track 5:
4
A step, as in a stair.
- The garden path had a small footstep down to the main walkway.
5
The distance between one foot and the next when walking; a pace.
- Mere footsteps away from the victim lay the murder weapon.
6
The act of taking a step.
- Take one more footstep towards me, and I'll make you sorry!
- God moves in a myſterious way, / His wonders to perform; / He plants his footſteps in the ſea, / And rides upon the ſtorm.1780, William Cowper, “Light Shining out of Darkneſs”, in Twenty-ſix Letters on Religious Subjects […] To which are added Hymns […] , 4th edition, page 252:
7
Obsolete An inclined plane under a hand printing press.
- Derived terms
- devil's footstep
- Related terms
- footer