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

It was evident she had set him down in her mind as an unlucky first-foot.

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

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

Nelly was no friend to spirit-drinking; nevertheless she was glad that her first-foot, though he did squint, had not come empty-handed.

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

"Ye are our first-foot, and I hope—I'm sure ye'll ba a lucky ane; and ye wadna, ye canna be gaun out without tasting wi' us on a New-year's morning."

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

But our business at present is with the first-foot, and we must hold.

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