Footwork

How to spell footwork

8 letters · 2 syllables

How to pronounce footwork

Say the part in capitals loudest.

What does footwork mean?

1. nounThe way a person moves or positions their feet, especially in sport, dance, or skilful manoeuvring.

Footwork in a sentence

• The boxer's quick footwork kept him out of range.

• The dance instructor praised her precise footwork during the routine.

Where does footwork come from?

Language of origin: Germanic

This is a transparent English compound, joining two of the oldest words in the language: 'foot', from Old English 'fot', the Germanic word for the lower limb on which a person stands, and 'work', from Old English 'weorc', meaning labour or activity. Both halves trace back to common Germanic roots, and 'foot' is related to the Latin 'pes' and Greek 'pous' that give us words like 'pedal' and 'podium'. The compound itself is relatively modern, appearing in English in the early 1800s to describe the way a person manages and positions the feet, especially in boxing, dancing, and sport. From that physical sense it later extended figuratively to mean skilful manoeuvring through a tricky situation. Because both parts are familiar everyday words, the spelling is simply a matter of remembering it is written as one solid word.

How the word is built

• foot (the body part)
• work (activity, effort)