Footed

Footed is an adjective formed from the noun foot. It denotes something that has a foot or feet, or that is supported by a foot or pedestal. In everyday usage, it is common in descriptions of objects designed to stand on a base: footed bowls, footed goblets, footed vases, or a footed plate. In furniture and tableware, a “footed” piece has a distinct base, often elevated, which distinguishes it from a flat-bottom version. A chair or stand described as “three-footed” or “five-footed” typically refers to the number of legs or feet that support it.

Biology and anatomy fields rarely use footed as a formal term. When it appears, it is usually informal, indicating that an organism has feet, but more precise anatomical language is preferred. In art, architecture, and sculpture, a statue or vessel may be called footed if it rests on a base or pedestal, highlighting its raised support.

In literary contexts, the word can appear in discussions of verse where the text is described as being “footed” into metrical feet. However, scholars more commonly specify the type of metrical foot (iamb, trochee, anapest, etc.) rather than rely on the general term “footed.”

Etymology traces footed to Old English fot, meaning foot. Related terms include foot, footing, pedestal, and the broader concept of bases or supports.