footman

[foo t-muh n]

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR footman ON THESAURUS.COM

noun, plural foot·men.

a liveried servant who attends the door or carriage, waits on table, etc.

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

Archaic. an infantryman.

Origin of footman

First recorded in 1250–1300, footman is from the Middle English word fotman. See foot, man¹

Related formsun·der·foot·man, noun, plural un·der·foot·men.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for footman

servant, attendant, steward, waitress, gofer, lackey, drudge, sycophant, snob, toady, helper, vassal, knave, blackguard, page, slaver, tray, servitor, salver, waitperson

Examples from the Web for footman

Contemporary Examples of footman

A footman was summoned and told to go down to the kitchens where the chefs on duty were severely reprimanded.
Royals And Royalist On Vacation
Tom Sykes
August 9, 2013
After graduating in June 2011, he applied for a job as a footman at Buckingham Palace, and started there in February 2012.
Royal Footman Forced To Return To Calcutta Slum Days After Starring Role In Baby's Birth
July 31, 2013
On my visit, I was attended by a footman and a lady dressed in period attire.
Savoir Beds’ Royal State Bed: Just Perfect, If You Have $175,000
Daniel Gross
June 27, 2013

Historical Examples of footman

Still the footman said 'Walk in,' so the visitor followed him.
Little Dorrit
Charles Dickens
I told my steward to be ready, as well as my other man-servant and my mother's footman.
My Double Life
Sarah Bernhardt
With these words I rang for my footman to show the Prefect of Police to the door.
My Double Life
Sarah Bernhardt
Perhaps the Boar's Head had something to do with it, but certainly the footman had.
Life And Adventures Of Martin Chuzzlewit
Charles Dickens
Ormond did very positively desire it, and the footman obeyed.
Tales And Novels, Volume 9 (of 10)
Maria Edgeworth

British Dictionary definitions for footman

footman

noun plural -men

a male servant, esp one in livery

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

(formerly) a foot soldier

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

Word Origin and History for footman

c.1300, "foot soldier;" late 14c., "one who goes on foot;" as a personal attendant, originally one who ran before or alongside his master's carriage, announcing its arrival (and keeping it from tipping over). The modern, non-jogging servant sense is from c.1700, though the running footmen still were in service mid-18c. From foot (n.) + man (n.).