foot-folk
(ˈfʊtfəʊk)
[ME., f. foot n. + folk. Cf. MHG. vuo{zced}volc, Ger. fuszvolk, Du. voetvolk, etc.]
Foot-soldiers, infantry.
In mod. use a new formation, prob. partly after G. fussvolk, as in quot. 1859.
1297 R. Glouc. (1724) 398 Fot volc wythoute nombre. 13.. Coer de L. 4529 The foote folk and sympyl knaves, In hande they hente ful good staves. |
1859 Thackeray Virgin. II. xv, Old George Frundsberg of Mindelheim, a colonel of foot-folk in the Imperial service. 1876 Morris æneids vii. 793 A cloud of foot-folk follow him. 1903 Daily Chron. 11 Dec. 3/4 The British footfolk at close grips are the very devil. 1905 Ibid. 24 June 4/6 The Scottish army consisted almost exclusively of foot-folk. |