Afoot

adv. prop. phr. [A prep.¹ on + FOOT. The full on fote occurs in 13th c., and a foot was written as two words till the 17th. The oldest form was in the plural, a (on) foten = on feet, always in the earlier text of Layamon 1205, but altered in the later to a fote.]

  1.  On foot, i.e., on one’s own feet, in opposition to on horseback, etc.

1205.  Layamon, 5908. Weoren heo of Rome; alle ridinde, þa oðere a foten [later text a fote]. Ibid., 25402. Þat folc … þat þer eoden a uoten [later text afote].

c. 1325.  E. E. Allit. P., B. 79. Þe wayferande frekez, on fote & on hors.

1366.  Maundev., xxii. (1839), 245. 50,000 men at horse, and 200,000 men a fote.

1489.  Caxton, Faytes of Armes, I. xxiii. 70. Folke in tho dayes faughten more on horsbacke than a-fote.

1611.  Bible, Acts xx. 13. Minding himselfe to goe afoote.

1681.  Lond. Gaz., mdclxi/3. His Royal Highness walked a Foot.

1762.  Goldsm., Cit. of World, cxxii. (1837), 474. They take coach, which costs ninepence, or they may go afoot, which costs nothing.

1849.  Dickens, Barn. Rudge, 15/1. He was mounted and I afoot.

  2.  On foot, in opposition to sitting still, lying, etc.; astir, on the move.

1530.  Palsgr., 422/2. Is this woman that lay a chylde bedde a foote agayne?

1588.  Shaks., Tit. A., IV. ii. 29. Were our witty Empresse well a foot. Ibid. (1596), 1 Hen. IV., I. iii. 278. Before the game’s a-foot, thou still let’st slip.

1827.  J. F. Cooper, Prairie, I. vii. 100. Ishmael and his sons were all speedily afoot.

1828.  Scott, F. M. Perth, II. 123. A party of mummers who were a-foot for pleasure.

  3.  Hence, In active existence, in operation or employment.

1601.  Shaks., Jul. C., III. ii. 265. Mischeefe thou art a-foot.

1638.  Sanderson, 21 Serm., Ad. Aul. viii. (1673), 112. Pride … setteth contentions a foot at the first and afterwards keepeth them afoot.

1659.  Birch, in Burton’s Diary (1828), IV. 384. The Committee of the Army is kept a-foot still, at salaries. Receivers-general and auditors are kept a-foot at the same height.

1879.  J. E. T. Rogers, in Cassell’s Techn. Educ., IV. 128/2. Where there are employers and working hands there is always a question afoot, whether the profits of the employer do not take over-much from the wages of the workman.

  4.  Comb. afoot-back (after a-horse-back).

1592.  Greene, Groats worth of Wit, D iij b. When I was fayne to carry my playing fardle afoot-backe.