A set pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables, particularly as used in verse. In English, most words, and most of the resulting verse, are in one of these five feet:

  • Iambic foot or iamb: An unstressed (short) syllable followed by a stressed (long). {Today, about, repeat}
  • Trochaic foot or trochee: A stressed syllable followed by a unstressed syllable. {Meter, pleasant, daily}
  • Anapestic foot or anapest: Two unstressed syllables followed by one stressed. {Intercede, for the nonce}
  • Dactylic foot, or dactyl:One stressed syllable, followed by two unstressed syllables. {Silvery, national, penitent}
  • Spondiac foot or spondee: Two stressed syllables {Thirteen. deadbeat}
  • Other feet include, but are not limited to, Amphibrach, Amphimacer, Antibacchius, Bacchic, and Pyrrhic.


    Trochee / trips from / long to / short;
    From long to long in solemn sort
    Slow Spon/dee stalks; / strong foot! / yet ill / able
    Ever to / come up with / Dactyl tri/syllable.
    Iam/bic march / from short / to long;
    With a leap / and a bound / the swift An/apaests throng.

    --Samuel Taylor Coleridge

    Rewritten and cleaned up after beaucoup downvotes.

    Also a New York City-based band, whose members are:

    Sonic Youth's Thurston Moore, guitar, Moogerfooger, other asst. pedals

    Don Fleming, Fender Telecaster and busted Arp Axxe

    James H. "Jimbo" Dunbar III, Fender Blues Deluxe feedback, asst. keyboards, glass sax.

    Formed 1998. Genre: NeMoCore.

    The band has been described as Canal Street art-noise, but that description is unnecesarily reductive, though a bone-simple description of foot music is hard to come up with.

    The name of the band is, in fact, an acronym, meaning either Fluxus-oriented oscillating trash or Fluxus-oriented oscillating tones, depending on Moore's mood.

    Actually, the band was initially named after an empty guitar case Dunbar was using as a sock drawer in his former Canal Street apartment; the case had "foot" written in orange cursive on it. Formed circa 1998, foot is without question Moore's wildest side project. The guiding premise, as revealed through the cryptic liner-note writings of a mysterious figure named Capt. Nemo, is that the trio seeks to invoke the Music of the Spheres thru telepathic and hands-on operation of guitars, amplifiers and synthesizers. The genre deplores the use of drummers, citing the "tyranny" of rhythm.

    Other than Moore, the members are: Don Fleming, the guitarist and songwriter who founded Gumball and the Velvet Monkeys and former Columbia A&R dude/man-about-town Jim Dunbar.

    foot, (yes, all lower-case) have only played a smattering of gigs, only maybe five ever. Four of them were in NYC: Two off-the-hook noisefests at the now-defunct Cooler in Manhattan's meat-packing district, a third with a trio of white bodysuit-clad performance artists (called "Actress") at a loft called the Greene/Naftali gallery on West 26th, and a fourth at some museum at which Yoko Ono was present. That one actually got written up in The New York Times.

    The fifth and most recent performance, in Fall 2001, occurred outside a club near Moore's home in Northampton, Mass. Dunbar wasn't available, so Thurston had to find scabs. Filling in were J Mascis, Tom Verlaine and Gastr del Sol omnimusician/Wilco producer/embarassingly prolific writer Jim O'Rourke. The fivesome cruised up to the club in the Gordon-Moores' white Volvo station wagon, were handed a microphone, and proceeded to bleat AM static thru the club's PA system, much to the bemusement of the folks who'd presumably come to watch the indie-rockstars, um rock out or whatever. According to Moore, O'Rourke savagely molested Kim Gordon's big blue rubber yoga ball during the performance, on the hood of the wagon, no less, which probably didn't help matters much, confusion-wise.

    A sixth performance is scheduled for November 2002 at the Zurich Institute in New York, an event curated by the painter Jutta Koether, who also happened to have written the liner notes to DGC's reissue of the Sonic Youth's Daydream Nation CD back in the early 1990s.

    Anatomy

    The human foot is designed to provide flexibility and resiliency, while being able power human movement and withstand several tonnes of pressure. Controlling balance, mobility, and providing a base for support, the foot consists of 26 bones, 33 joints, over 100 muscles, tendons, and ligaments, as well as the network of blood vessels, skin, nerves and soft tissue that give the foot its shape, providing it with cellular regeneration capabilities and nourishment to the muscles contained within.

    Structure

    The human foot is composed of three parts: the forefoot, midfoot and hindfoot. The forefoot consists of all the five toes. Each toe (phalanx) consists of bones called phalanges, followed by connecting long bones known as metatarsals. They are connected to one another by the 5 phalangeal joints located at the ball of the foot. Each toe consists of 3 bones and 2 joints, excluding the big toe (hallux), which has 2 phalanges, 2 joints, and two tiny irregularly shaped sesamoid bones which give it extra mobility. The forefoot bears half of the person's total body weight, while also releiving the pressure placed on the ball of the foot.

    Closer to the body, the midfoot consists of the five tarsal bones which together form the arch of the foot. The midfoot functions as a shock absorber, and is mainly connected to the forefoot and hindfoot by a ligament called the plantar fascia.

    Connecting the midfoot to the ankle (talus) is the hindfoot, which provides a base of support. It is composed of three joints which link the midfoot to the ankle, which is in turn linked to the bones of the lower leg (tibia and fibula). The largest bone in the foot, the calcaneus, is connected to the talus in order to enable ankle rotation. Beneath the calcaneous lies a cushioning layer of fat.

    Muscles, Tendons, and Ligaments

    There are 5 main muscles in the foot, which provide for the bulk of its movement. These are the anterior tibial muscle, which is responsible for upward movement; the arch-supporting posterior tibial muscle; the peroneal tibial muscle, which controls ankle movement; the extensors, which initiate walking; and the flexors, which provide balance by stabilising the toes against the ground. There are also a few other small muscles which are responsible for the movements of the toes.

    The foot also consists of several tendons to connect the muscles to the bones and joints, the largest and most notable of which is the Achilles' tendon, which runs along the length of the calf and inserts at the heel. This tendon allows the human body to run, jump, climb stairs, and stand on tiptoe.

    There are also a number of ligaments holding the tendons in place and proving stability to the joints. The largest ligament in the foot is the plantar fascia which connects from the heel to the toes, forming the arch in the foot. This ligament is responsible for just about all human movement through its stretching and contracting, while also providing balance.

    Common Ailments

    sources:
    http://www.soarmedical.com/medical-library/foot&ankle/
    http://www.athleticadvisor.com/Injuries/LE/Foot&Ankle/plantar_fasciitis.htm
    www.feetnet.com
    http://www.podiatrychannel.com/anatomy/

    Foot (?), n.; pl. Feet (#). [OE. fot, foot, pl. feet. AS. ft, pl. ft; akin to D. voet, OHG. fuoz, G. fuss, Icel. fir, Sw. fot, Dan. fod, Goth. ftus, L. pes, Gr. , Skr. pad, Icel. fet step, pace measure of a foot, feta to step, find one's way. 77, 250. Cf. Antipodes, Cap-a-pie, Expedient, Fet to fetch, Fetlock, Fetter, Pawn a piece in chess, Pedal.]

    1. Anat.

    The terminal part of the leg of man or an animal; esp., the part below the ankle or wrist; that part of an animal upon which it rests when standing, or moves. See Manus, and Pes.

    2. Zool.

    The muscular locomotive organ of a mollusk. It is a median organ arising from the ventral region of body, often in the form of a flat disk, as in snails. See Illust. of Buccinum.

    3.

    That which corresponds to the foot of a man or animal; as, the foot of a table; the foot of a stocking.

    4.

    The lowest part or base; the ground part; the bottom, as of a mountain or column; also, the last of a row or series; the end or extremity, esp. if associated with inferiority; as, the foot of a hill; the foot of the procession; the foot of a class; the foot of the bed.

    And now at foot Of heaven's ascent they lift their feet. Milton.

    5.

    Fundamental principle; basis; plan; -- used only in the singular.

    Answer directly upon the foot of dry reason. Berkeley.

    6.

    Recognized condition; rank; footing; -- used only in the singular.

    [R.]

    As to his being on the foot of a servant. Walpole.

    7.

    A measure of length equivalent to twelve inches; one third of a yard. See Yard.

    This measure is supposed to be taken from the length of a man's foot. It differs in length in different countries. In the United States and in England it is 304.8 millimeters.

    8. Mil.

    Soldiers who march and fight on foot; the infantry, usually designated as the foot, in distinction from the cavalry.

    "Both horse and foot."

    Milton.

    9. Pros.

    A combination of syllables consisting a metrical element of a verse, the syllables being formerly distinguished by their quantity or length, but in modern poetry by the accent.

    10. Naut.

    The lower edge of a sail.

    Foot is often used adjectively, signifying of or pertaining to a foot or the feet, or to the base or lower part. It is also much used as the first of compounds.

    Foot artillery. Mil. (a) Artillery soldiers serving in foot. (b) Heavy artillery. Farrow. -- Foot bank Fort., a raised way within a parapet. -- Foot barracks Mil., barracks for infantery. -- Foot bellows, a bellows worked by a treadle. Knight. -- Foot company Mil., a company of infantry. Milton. -- Foot gear, covering for the feet, as stocking, shoes, or boots. -- Foot hammer Mach., a small tilt hammer moved by a treadle. -- Foot iron. (a) The step of a carriage. (b) A fetter. -- Foot jaw. Zool. See Maxilliped. -- Foot key Mus., an organ pedal. -- Foot level Gunnery, a form of level used in giving any proposed angle of elevation to a piece of ordnance. Farrow. -- Foot mantle, a long garment to protect the dress in riding; a riding skirt. [Obs.] -- Foot page, an errand boy; an attendant. [Obs.] -- Foot passenger, one who passes on foot, as over a road or bridge. -- Foot pavement, a paved way for foot passengers; a footway; a trottoir. -- Foot poet, an inferior poet; a poetaster. [R.] Dryden. -- Foot post. (a) A letter carrier who travels on foot. (b) A mail delivery by means of such carriers. -- Fot pound, ∧ Foot poundal. Mech. See Foot pound and Foot poundal, in the Vocabulary. -- Foot press Mach., a cutting, embossing, or printing press, moved by a treadle. -- Foot race, a race run by persons on foot. Cowper. -- Foot rail, a railroad rail, with a wide flat flange on the lower side. -- Foot rot, an ulcer in the feet of sheep; claw sickness. -- Foot rule, a rule or measure twelve inches long. -- Foot screw, an adjusting screw which forms a foot, and serves to give a machine or table a level standing on an uneven place. -- Foot secretion. Zool. See Sclerobase. -- Foot soldier, a soldier who serves on foot. -- Foot stick Printing, a beveled piece of furniture placed against the foot of the page, to hold the type in place. -- Foot stove, a small box, with an iron pan, to hold hot coals for warming the feet. -- Foot tubercle. Zool. See Parapodium. -- Foot valve Steam Engine, the valve that opens to the air pump from the condenser. -- Foot vise, a kind of vise the jaws of which are operated by a treadle. -- Foot waling Naut., the inside planks or lining of a vessel over the floor timbers. Totten. -- Foot wall Mining, the under wall of an inclosed vein.

    By foot, or On foot, by walking; as, to pass a stream on foot. -- Cubic foot. See under Cubic. -- Foot and mouth disease, a contagious disease (Eczema epizootica) of cattle, sheep, swine, etc., characterized by the formation of vesicles and ulcers in the mouth and about the hoofs. -- Foot of the fine Law, the concluding portion of an acknowledgment in court by which, formerly, the title of land was conveyed. See Fine of land, under Fine, n.; also Chirograph. (b). -- Square foot. See under Square. -- To be on foot, to be in motion, action, or process of execution. -- To keep the foot Script., to preserve decorum. "Keep thy foot when thou goest to the house of God." Eccl. v. 1. -- To put one's foot down, to take a resolute stand; to be determined. [Colloq.] -- To put the best foot foremost, to make a good appearance; to do one's best. [Colloq.] -- To set on foot, to put in motion; to originate; as, to set on foot a subscription. -- To put, or set, one on his feet, to put one in a position to go on; to assist to start. -- Under foot. (a) Under the feet; (Fig.) at one's mercy; as, to trample under foot. Gibbon. (b) Below par. [Obs.] "They would be forced to sell . . . far under foot." Bacon.

     

    © Webster 1913.


    Foot (?), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Footed; p. pr. & vb. n. Footing.]

    1.

    To tread to measure or music; to dance; to trip; to skip.

    Dryden.

    2.

    To walk; -- opposed to ride or fly.

    Shak.

     

    © Webster 1913.


    Foot, v. t.

    1.

    To kick with the foot; to spurn.

    Shak.

    2.

    To set on foot; to establish; to land.

    [Obs.]

    What confederacy have you with the traitors Late footed in the kingdom? Shak.

    3.

    To tread; as, to foot the green.

    Tickell.

    4.

    To sum up, as the numbers in a column; -- sometimes with up; as, to foot (or foot up) an account.

    5.

    The size or strike with the talon.

    [Poet.]

    Shak.

    6.

    To renew the foot of, as of stocking.

    Shak.

    To foot a bill, to pay it. [Colloq.] -- To foot it, to walk; also, to dance.<-- = to hoof it (to walk) -->

    If you are for a merry jaunt, I'll try, for once, who can foot it farthest. Dryden.

     

    © Webster 1913.

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