Feet n. pl. See Foot.
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.
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.
Of heaven's ascent they lift their feet. --Milton.
5. Fundamental principle; basis; plan; -- used only in the singular.
Answer directly upon the foot of dry reason. --Berkeley.
As to his being on the foot of a servant. --Walpole.
Note: ☞ 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.
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.
10. Naut. The lower edge of a sail.
Note: ☞ 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.
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 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, ∧ 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.
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 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.
chair was on the carpet"