foothold

English

Etymology

From foot +‎ hold.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈfʊthoʊld/

• Audio (Southern England):

  (file)

Noun

foothold (plural footholds)

1. (climbing) A solid grip with the feet.

   Synonym: footing

2. (by extension) A secure position from which it is difficult to be dislodged.

   Synonym: footing

   • 2025 July 19, Pacifik, “Bingo Coppa Child”, in Wonderfool, performed by Pacifik:

     I’ve always looked for a secure foothold
     A secret formula that can free me from myself

3. (military) Airhead, beachhead, bridgehead, lodgement.
   • 2017, BioWare, Mass Effect: Andromeda (Science Fiction), Redwood City: Electronic Arts, →OCLC, PC, scene: APEX Status:

     Based on status report 16-C, it seems we're no closer to gaining a foothold in any sector. Without decent recon and greater intel on this enemy, I'm starting to think our efforts are futile. The risks involved and continued loss of resources and lives makes it hard to justify.

Related terms

• footholder

Translations

a solid grip with the feet

• Bulgarian: опора (bg) f (opora)
• Danish: fodfæste
• Finnish: jalansija (fi)
• French: point d'appui (fr)
• German: Halt (de), fester Stand
• Greek: βάση (el) f (vási)
• Irish: lán coise m
• Macedonian: ста́пка f (stápka), по́тпора f (pótpora)
• Norwegian:

  Bokmål: fotfeste n

  Nynorsk: fotfeste n

• Portuguese: apoio para os pés m
• Russian: опо́ра для ноги́ f (opóra dlja nogí)
• Spanish: punto de apoyo m, apoyatura podal f
• Swedish: fotfäste (sv) n

(by extension) a secure position

• Esperanto: piedtenejo
• Finnish: jalansija (fi)

beachhead, bridgehead, lodgement

• Bulgarian: плацдарм m (placdarm), предмостие n (predmostie)
• Finnish: jalansija (fi), sillanpää
• Greek: βάση (el) f (vási)
• Macedonian: мо́стобран m (móstobran)
• Russian: плацда́рм (ru) m (placdárm), опо́рный пункт (ru) m (opórnyj punkt)