footwall

American  

[foot-wawl] / ˈfʊtˌwɔl /

noun

1. Mining. the top of the rock stratum underlying a vein or bed of ore.

2. Geology. a mass of rock lying beneath a fault plane.

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footwall British  

/ ˈfʊtˌwɔːl /

noun

1. the rocks on the lower side of an inclined fault plane or mineral vein Compare hanging wall

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footwall Scientific  

/ ft′wôl′ /

1. The block of rock lying under an inclined geologic fault plane.

2. See more at fault Compare hanging wall

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Etymology

Origin of footwall

First recorded in 1640–50; foot + wall

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Compare meaning

How does footwall compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• hanging wall vs. footwall

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

footwall

In reverse faults, compressional forces cause the hanging wall to move up relative to the footwall.

From Textbooks ● Jan. 1, 2017

The body of rock above the fault is called the hanging wall, and the body of rock below it is called the footwall.

From Textbooks ● Jan. 1, 2015

The terms hanging wall and footwall in the diagrams apply to situations where the fault is not vertical.

From Textbooks ● Jan. 1, 2015

If the fault develops in a situation of extension, then it will be a normal fault, because the extension allows the hanging wall to slide down relative to the footwall in response to gravity.

From Textbooks ● Jan. 1, 2015

To these timbers are fixed small timbers along the footwall, to which are fastened the lagging and ladders.

From De Re Metallica, Translated from the First Latin Edition of 1556 by Georgius Agricola

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