noun
footman
Footman (noun) means Historically, a male servant who attended the door, carriage, or dining table of a wealthy household. Example: “A footman opened the carriage door for the guests.”
noun
1
Historically, a male servant who attended the door, carriage, or dining table of a wealthy household.
"A footman opened the carriage door for the guests."
"Reading their accounts, you can't help feeling they got a more thrilling frisson from sharing a pot of home-made stew without a footman than they took in any of their convoluted couplings."
— Tim Hayward, Not so easy does it (2023)
2
A soldier who fights on foot rather than on horseback (archaic).
"The knights and footmen assembled before the battle."
How to use footman
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishMostly known today as a livened household servant in period dramas, or historically a foot soldier.
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Word forms
- Plural
- footmen
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
A _____ opened the carriage door for the guests.
Etymology
From Old English words for "foot" and "man," originally describing a foot soldier before shifting to mean a household servant.
Frequently asked questions
What does “footman” mean?
The word “footman” means historically, a male servant who attended the door, carriage, or dining table of a wealthy household. In plain terms, mostly known today as a livened household servant in period dramas, or historically a foot soldier.
How do you use “footman” in a sentence?
Here is “footman” used in a sentence: “A footman opened the carriage door for the guests.”
What part of speech is “footman”?
“Footman” is a noun.
Where does the word “footman” come from?
The word “footman” comes from Old English. From Old English words for "foot" and "man," originally describing a foot soldier before shifting to mean a household servant.
How many meanings does “footman” have?
“Footman” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: historically, a male servant who attended the door, carriage, or dining table of a wealthy household.
