footstep

English

Etymology

From Middle English fotstep, fotstappe, from Old English *fōtstepe, *fōtstæpe (attested only in derivative fōtstappel (“footstep”)), equivalent to foot +‎ step. Cognate with Saterland Frisian Foutstappe (“footstep”), West Frisian fuotstap (“footstep”), Dutch voetstap (“footstep”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈfʊtstɛp/
• Hyphenation: foot‧step

Noun

footstep (plural footsteps)

1. The mark or impression left by a foot; a track.

   The child watched as his footsteps in the sand were washed away by the waves.

2. By extension, the indications or waypoints of a course or direction taken.

   To walk the footsteps of greatness requires that you start at the bottom of a long stair.

3. The sound made by walking, running etc.

   The footsteps of the students echoed in the empty hall.

4. A step, as in a stair.

   The garden path had a small footstep down to the main walkway.

5. The distance between one foot and the next when walking; a pace.

   Mere footsteps away from the victim lay the murder weapon.

6. The act of taking a step.

   Take one more footstep towards me, and I'll make you sorry!

   • 1780, William Cowper, “Light Shining out of Darkneſs”, in Twenty-ſix Letters on Religious Subjects […] To which are added Hymns […] ‎^[1], fourth edition, page 252:

     God moves in a myſterious way, / His wonders to perform; / He plants his footſteps in the ſea, / And rides upon the ſtorm.

7. (obsolete) An inclined plane under a hand printing press.

Synonyms

• (mark left by a foot): footprint, step, track
• (signs of a course taken): point, path, step, trail
• (sound of a footstep): footfall, plod, step, tread
• (step, as in a stair): riser, step
• (distance of one footstep): pace, step, stride
• (act of taking a step): pace, plod, step, stride, tread

Related terms

• footer

Translations

mark left by a foot

• Bashkir: эҙ (eð)
• Bulgarian: стъпка (bg) f (stǎpka)
• Czech: stopa (cs) f
• Dutch: voetafdruk (nl) m, voetstap (nl)
• Estonian: jalajälg (et)
• Finnish: jalanjälki (fi)
• French: empreinte (fr) f, trace de pas f
• German: Fußabdruck (de) m
• Greek:

  Ancient: ἴχνος n (íkhnos)

• Hungarian: lábnyom (hu)

• Istriot: urma f
• Italian: impronta (it) f, pedata (it) f
• Latin: vestigium n
• Maori: takahanga waewae, āhiki, tapuwae
• Old East Slavic: плесна f (plesna)
• Portuguese: pegada (pt) f, pegada (pt) f, passo (pt) m
• Russian: след (ru) m (sled)
• Spanish: huella (es) f, paso (es) m
• Swahili: nyayo (sw)
• Turkish: ayak izi (tr)

signs of a course taken

• Czech: stopa (cs) f
• Dutch: spoor (nl) n, voetafdruk (nl) m
• Estonian: jälg (et)
• Finnish: jalanjälki (fi)
• Hungarian: nyomdok (hu)

• Italian: orma (it) f
• Portuguese: pegada (pt) f
• Russian: след (ru) m (sled)
• Swahili: nyayo (sw)

sound of a footstep

• Armenian: քայլ (hy) (kʿayl)
• Bulgarian: шум от стъпки (šum ot stǎpki)
• Dutch: voetstap (nl) m
• Estonian: sammude kõla
• Finnish: askel (fi)

• French: pas (fr) m, bruit de pas m
• Hungarian: lépés (hu)
• Italian: passo (it) m
• Portuguese: passo (pt) m
• Russian: шаг (ru) m (šag)

step, as in a stair

• Bashkir: баҫҡыс (baθqïs)
• Bulgarian: стъпало (bg) n (stǎpalo)
• Czech: schod (cs) m
• Dutch: trede (nl) m or f, tree (nl) m or f
• Finnish: askelma (fi)

• French: marche (fr) f
• Italian: gradino (it) m
• Portuguese: degrau (pt) m
• Russian: ступе́нька (ru) f (stupénʹka)
• Spanish: paso (es) m (obsolete), peldaño (es) m

distance of one footstep

• Armenian: քայլ (hy) (kʿayl)
• Bashkir: аҙым (aðïm)
• Bulgarian: крачка (bg) f (kračka)
• Czech: krok (cs) m
• Dutch: voet (nl) m, pas (nl) m
• Finnish: askel (fi), askelmitta
• French: pas (fr) m, enjambée (fr) f

• German: Schritt (de) m
• Italian: passo (it) m
• Maori: āhiki
• Portuguese: passo (pt) m
• Russian: шаг (ru) m (šag)
• Spanish: paso (es) m

act of taking a step

• Armenian: քայլ (hy) (kʿayl)
• Bashkir: атлау (atlaw)
• Bulgarian: крачка (bg) f (kračka)
• Czech: krok (cs) m
• Dutch: pas (nl) m
• Finnish: askel (fi)

• French: marche (fr) f
• Italian: passo (it) m
• Maori: āhiki
• Portuguese: passo (pt) m
• Russian: шаг (ru) m (šag)

The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables, removing any numbers. Numbers do not necessarily match those in definitions. See instructions at Wiktionary:Entry layout § Translations.

Translations to be checked

• Chamicuro: ^{(please verify)} yakatijkac̈hopi
• French: ^{(please verify)} pas (fr) m
• Hiligaynon: ^{(please verify)} talapakan

• Italian: ^{(please verify)} pedata (it)
• Tagalog: ^{(please verify)} yapak, ^{(please verify)} talampakan (tl)

Anagrams

• step foot