footlong

[foot-lawng, -long]

adjective

1. approximately one foot in length.

   Their specialty is footlong hotdogs.

noun

1. something that is approximately one foot in length.

Word History and Origins

Origin of footlong¹

First recorded in 1680–90; foot ( def. ) + long ¹ ( def. )

Example Sentences

Sean Dunn stands charged with misdemeanor assault for hurling a footlong Subway sandwich into the bulletproof vest of a Customs and Border Protection agent who was patrolling a bustling nightlife corridor on the night of Aug. 10.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Under questioning, Lairmore said co-workers gave him a sandwich-shaped plush toy and a patch reading “felony footlong” as gag gifts.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

When I was young, rabies was a big concern — as a child I was warned, repeatedly, to never approach a strange dog if I didn’t want to endure the excruciating pain of dozens of injections, delivered by a footlong needle, right in my stomach.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

He whipped back around, wound up, and threw his footlong Subway sub at the agent, hitting him square in the chest.

Read more on Slate

But the creature the institute caught on video was a footlong juvenile.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• frankfurter 
• sausage