footman

[ foot-muhn ]
See synonyms for footman on Thesaurus.com
noun,plural foot·men.
  1. a liveried servant who attends the door or carriage, waits on table, etc.

  2. a metal stand before a fire, to keep something hot.

  1. Archaic. an infantryman.

Origin of footman

1
First recorded in 1250–1300, footman is from the Middle English word fotman.See foot, man

Other words from footman

  • un·der·foot·man, noun, plural un·der·foot·men.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use footman in a sentence

  • "But my mistress knew nothing of the footmen and chairmen," returned Bella, observing a smile upon her features.

    The Adopted Daughter | Elizabeth Sandham
  • De St. Julien, bid the varlets and footmen place the baggage wagons round the camp, to make what barricade they may.

    God Wills It! | William Stearns Davis
  • The postillions and footmen jumped down, but, quicker than they, Rose Lyndwood opened the door and sprang out.

    The Rake's Progress | Marjorie Bowen

British Dictionary definitions for footman

footman

/ (ˈfʊtmən) /


nounplural -men
  1. a male servant, esp one in livery

  2. a low four-legged metal stand used in a fireplace for utensils, etc

  1. (formerly) a foot soldier

  2. any of several arctiid moths related to the tiger moths, esp the common footman (Eilema lurideola), with yellowish hind wings and brown forewings with a yellow front stripe; they produce woolly bear larvae

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012