footgoer

English

Alternative forms

• foot-goer, foot goer

Etymology

From foot +‎ goer. Compare Yiddish פֿוסגייער (fusgeyer), German Fußgänger and also etymologically similar footganger.

Noun

footgoer (plural footgoers)

1. One who goes by foot; a walker; pedestrian.
   • 1847, Donald Grant Mitchell, Fresh Gleanings:

     There is no pavement for the foot-goer but the sharp, round stones sticking up from side to side, and sloping down to the sluiceway in the middle.

   • 1900, Jerome K. Jerome, Three Men on the Bummel:

     I came to the conclusion that she was a “grownup” and a “footgoer,” and pointed out her path. She looked at it, and seemed disappointed.

   • 1912, Blackwood's Magazine - Volume 191, page 643:

     The horses went at a good pace on this soft grass, and soon the two footgoers called out to us to stop.

   • 1924, Jan Gordon, Cora Gordon, Misadventures with a donkey in Spain, page 125:

     We will not admit ourselves to be inexperienced footgoers, having learned some years before the war, in the Tyrol, all about thick-soled shoes, double-woollen stockings, interchangeable linings, and so on; but here in Spain we had been tempted again to profit by the experience of others, as we had done formerly in the Tyrol.

   • 1929, John Milton Oskison, A Texas Titan: The Story of Sam Houston, page 93:

     All but the footgoers pushed on to the Hermitage, where Sam dismounted to stand beside Jackson as the great man spoke his praises.

   • 1936, Charles Montagu Doughty, Travels in Arabia Deserta - Volume 1 - Page 78:

     The night was open with cold wind; footgoers made blazing fires of the dry bushes and stood by, a moment, to warm themselves.

   • 1959, Mark Lemon, Henry Mayhew, Tom Taylor, Punch - Volume 237, page 334:

     It should not be confused all experienced footgoers with not less than 10,000 miles on their pedometers and three or more court findings in their favour, are entitled to reject applicants falling below the required standards of physical fitness.

   • 2003, Dorot: The Journal of the Jewish Genealogical Society:

     They would call themselves Fusgeyers (foot-goers, pedestrians, or wayfarers), wear uniforms, carry lanterns and flags, and support themselves by giving theatrical performances in Yiddish.

   • 2004, Peytons of Virginia 2, page 2:

     One of Rognwald's sons by his wife Hilda, daughter of Rolfe Nefia, was Rolf the Ganger. Called Ganger, meaning "foot goer," because he was too large to ride the small Norwegian ponies, Rolf is said to have been born on the Island of Giske and brought up on the island of Vigra off Aalsund.

   • 2016, Alan Gratz, Projekt 1065: A Novel of World War II:

     I stamped my feet and buried my hands in the heavy overcoat I wore. It was even colder by the River Spree, on the pedestrian path underneath the Moltke Bridge. There were no Fussgängers down here tonight. No “footgoers.” Not officially.

   • 2016, The Great Events of Global History, Vol. 9:

     Sixteen active peasants were appointed to be his bodyguard; and two hundred more youths who joined him were called his foot-goers.