footman
pronunciation
How to pronounce footman in British English:
UK [ˈfʊtmən]
How to pronounce footman in American English:
US [ˈfʊtmən]
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- Noun:
- a man employed as a servant in a large establishment (as a palace) to run errands and do chores
Word Origin
- footman (n.)
- c. 1300, "foot soldier;" late 14c., "one who goes on foot," from foot (n.) + man (n.). As a personal attendant, originally one who ran before or alongside his master's carriage, announcing its arrival (and keeping it from spilling). The non-jogging man-in-waitingt sense is from c. 1700, though the running footmen still were in service mid-18c. From foot (n.) + man (n.).
Example
- 1. They had a footman in livery with them .
- 2. I am my own footman and parlour-maid for the moment .
- 3. The footman 's mission was an easy one .
- 4. Paul wondered what that was , and why she didn 't send the footman out to get it in such unfavourable weather .
- 5. Then to earn his keep he was obliged to become a footman .