first-foot

American  

[furst-foot] / ˈfɜrstˈfʊt /

noun

1. the first person to cross the threshold of a house on New Year's Day.

2. the first person met after starting out on the day of an important occasion.

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verb (used with object)

1. to enter (a house) first on New Year's Day.

verb (used without object)

1. to be the first to enter a house on New Year's Day.

first-foot British  

noun

1. the first person to enter a household in the New Year. By Hogmanay tradition a dark-haired man who crosses the threshold at midnight brings good luck

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verb

1. to enter (a house) as first-foot

Other Word Forms

• first-footing
  noun

Etymology

Origin of first-foot

First recorded in 1880–85

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

first-foot

He knew her at the first glance—it was the fair stranger—his mother's first-foot!

From Wilson's Tales of the Borders and of Scotland Volume 10 by Various

Nelly declared that the squinting sailor had been an excellent first-foot.

From Wilson's Tales of the Borders and of Scotland Volume 10 by Various

The destiny of the members of a family is greatly affected for a whole year, if not for life, by the "first-foot" on New Year's and Christmas mornings.

From The Mysteries of All Nations Rise and Progress of Superstition, Laws Against and Trials of Witches, Ancient and Modern Delusions Together With Strange Customs, Fables, and Tales by Grant, James, archaeologist

A plane-soled person was an unlucky first-foot; a pious sanctimonious person was not good, and a hearty ranting merry fellow was considered the best sort of first-foot.

From Folk Lore Superstitious Beliefs in the West of Scotland within This Century by Napier, James

As her son read this, Nelly thought that it was nonsense, after all, to say that a squint first-foot was unlucky.

From Wilson's Tales of the Borders and of Scotland Volume 10 by Various