footling

[ foot-ling ]

/ ˈfʊt lɪŋ /

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adjective Informal.

foolish; silly: ridiculous, footling remarks.

trifling or useless.

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Question 1 of 7

Let’s start with some etymology: What are the origins of the typographical word “bracket”?

First appeared around 1750, and is related to the French word “braguette” for the name of codpiece armor.

First appeared in 1610, based on the French word “baguette” for the long loaf of bread.

First appeared in 1555, and is related to the French word “raquette” for a netted bat.

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Origin of footling

First recorded in 1895–1900; footle + -ing²

Words nearby footling

footlet, foot level, footlight, footlights, foot line, footling, footling presentation, footlocker, footlong, footloose, footloose and fancy-free

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021

Example sentences from the Web for footling

Ive repeated to myself over and over again exactly what I want to say to you, and now all Id prepared seems rather footling.
The Circle|W. Somerset Maugham
If you ask me, I should call it a simply footling show—but you were long enough over it.
The Travelling Companions|F. Anstey
Seems as if everything were too small and footling to matter.
Notwithstanding|Mary Cholmondeley
Still jumping, I said to myself: 'What in the name of glory are those asses right and left footling about?
'Neath Verdun, August-October, 1914|Maurice Genevoix

Only a couple of days ago I was compelled to take him off a case because his handling of it was so footling.
Right Ho, Jeeves|P. G. Wodehouse

British Dictionary definitions for footling

footling

/ (ˈfuːtlɪŋ) /

adjective

informal silly, trivial, or petty

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

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footling

adjective Informal.

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Origin of footling

Words nearby footling

Example sentences from the Web for footling

British Dictionary definitions for footling

adjective