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

One of the first things Armstrong had to do when he stepped off the ladder and onto the Eagle’s footpad was make sure he could jump back to that bottom rung.

From Slate • Dec. 9, 2025

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

From Seattle Times • Jul. 17, 2019

The image of footpad 3 is therefore the first clear image to be taken from the surface of Mars.

From The Guardian • Oct. 19, 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

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