Footlights. To smell the footlights, verb. phr. (theatrical).—To acquire a taste for theatricals. [Footlights = the float (q.v.); the row of burners in front of the stage.]
To smell of the footlights. To carry theatrical concerns and phraseology into private life; to talk shop (q.v.).
Footman's Inn, subs. phr. (old).—A
poor lodging; a jail. Fr., Hôtel
de la modestie = the Poor Man's
Arms.
1608. Penniles Parliament of Threedbare Poets. Those that depend on destiny, and not on God, may chance look through a narrow lattice at Footman's Inn.
1612. Rowland, Knave of Hearts. Which at the heeles so hants his frighted ghost, That he at last in Footman's-inne must host, Some castle dolorous compos'd of stone, Like (let me see) Newgate is such a one.
Footman's Maund, subs. phr.
(old).—An artificial sore, as from
a horse's bite or kick. The fox's
bite of schoolboys. Also the
Scaldrum Dodge, or Maund
(q.v.). Maund = a cadger's sale-basket.
Cf., Masons' Maund.
1690. B. E., Dict. of the Canting Crew, s.v. An artificial sore made with unslacked lime, soap, and the rust of old iron, on the back of a beggar's hand, as if hurt by the bite or kick of a horse.
1785. Grose, Dict. of the Vulg. Tongue, s.v.
Foot-riding, subs. (cyclists').—Walking
and wheeling one's
machine instead of riding it.
1887. T. Stevens, Round the World on a Bicycle. Already I realise that there is going to be as much foot-riding as anything for the first part of my journey.
Foot-scamp, subs. (old).—A footpad.—G.
Parker.
Footstool. See Angels' Footstool.
Foot-wobbler, subs. (old,
soldier's').—An infantryman. For
synonyms, see Mudcrusher.
1785. Grose, Dict. of the Vulg. Tongue, s.v.
Footy, adj. (old).—Contemptible;
worthless. Fr., foutu.—Grose.
1836. Michael Scott, Tom Cringle's Log, ch. v. My eye, Captain, no use to dodge from her; it is only dat footy little King's cutter on de Jamaica station.
Foozle, subs. (common and sporting).—1.
A boggle; a miss.
2. (common).—A bore; a fogey; and (in America) a fool; a green 'un. For synonyms, see Buffle, Cabbage-head, and Sammy soft.
1867. Rhoda Broughton, Cometh up as a Flower, ch. xxvi. Frumps and foozles in Eaton Square.
Verb. (common).—To miss; to boggle; to muff (q.v.).
1888. Field, 25 Feb. Park foozled his second stroke.
Foozled (or Foozley), adj. (colloquial).—Blurred in appearance and effect; fuzzy; muffed (q.v.). Often said of badly painted pictures, or parts of pictures.
Fop-doodle, subs. (old).—An
insignificant man; a fool.
1689. Shadwell, Bury Fair. Come come, you brace of fop-doodle
Fop's Alley, subs. phr. (old).—See
quot. 1883.
1782. DArblay, Cecilia, bk. II., ch iv. Sir Robert Floyer, sauntering down fop's alley.
