footpad

American  

[foot-pad] / ˈfʊtˌpæd /

noun

1. a highwayman or robber who goes on foot.

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verb (used without object)

footpadded, footpadding

1. to proceed stealthily on foot.

footpad British  

/ ˈfʊtˌpæd /

noun

1. archaic a robber or highwayman, on foot rather than horseback

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Etymology

Origin of footpad

First recorded in 1675–85; foot + pad ²

Example Sentences

Now, off the last rung, onto the saucer-like footpad.

From Seattle Times • Jul. 17, 2019

Harada showed me a few different movements: swinging your feet from side-to-side, swinging your feet in circles, rolling your ankles around on the footpads, pushing each footpad up and down like a seesaw.

From Slate • Dec. 21, 2016

Lee explained why the first image showed the footpad: to see how far Viking might sink into the surface.

From Washington Post • Jun. 18, 2016

As many other large dogs with footpad injuries do, Sam kept putting weight on the wound, caused when a toe had to be amputated.

From New York Times • Sep. 10, 2012

The picture built up, line by line, until with enormous relief we saw the footpad sitting high and dry above the Martian surface.

From "Cosmos" by Carl Sagan