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first-foot

[ furst-foot ]

noun

  1. the first person to cross the threshold of a house on New Year's Day.
  2. the first person met after starting out on the day of an important occasion.


verb (used with object)

  1. to enter (a house) first on New Year's Day.

verb (used without object)

  1. to be the first to enter a house on New Year's Day.

first-foot

noun

  1. the first person to enter a household in the New Year. By Hogmanay tradition a dark-haired man who crosses the threshold at midnight brings good luck
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012


verb

  1. to enter (a house) as first-foot
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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Derived Forms

  • ˈfirst-ˈfooting, noun
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Word History and Origins

Origin of first-foot1

First recorded in 1880–85
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Example Sentences

The "first-foot," on receiving his bread and cheese, is expected to return a short distance with the child, to show his good will.

But our business at present is with the first-foot, and we must hold.

It was evident she had set him down in her mind as an unlucky first-foot.

Does the question of first-foot rest upon the colour of the hair or upon the sex of the person?

The “first-foot” superstition is found in countries as far apart as 324Scotland and Macedonia.

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