footplate

English edit

Etymology edit

foot +‎ plate

Pronunciation edit

Audio (US) (file)

Noun edit

footplate (plural footplates)

(rail transport) The metal plate which forms the base platform of a steam locomotive and supports the boiler and the driver's cab, particularly in the United Kingdom.
- 1960 October, P. Ransome-Wallis, “Modern motive power of the German Federal Railway: Part Two”, in Trains Illustrated, page 611:
  All the same, nearly eight hours on the footplate covering a distance of 320 miles, with an ambient temperature of up to 103° for much of the time, proved an ordeal which I would not lightly undertake again.
- 1961 March, Balmore, “Driving and firing modern French steam locomotives”, in Trains Illustrated, page 148:
  After a while we left the engine, but not before André had examined the 4-6-4 very carefully, with hammer and torch, both outside and underneath. And that was the end of my footplate work on this particular weekend.
- 2022 January 12, Benedict le Vay, “The heroes of Soham...”, in RAIL, number 948, page 42:
  This uncoupling done, Gimbert opened the regulator as Nightall climbed back onto the footplate, in order to pull the one burning wagon away from the rest of the bomb-laden train.
The engineer's cab in any kind of train.
- 2006, Thomas Pynchon, Against the Day, Vintage, published 2007, page 845:
  Kit had fallen into conversation with a footplate man who was deadheading back out to Samarkand, where he lived with his wife and children.
(anatomy) The flat portion at the base of the stapes; pedicel.
- 2008, Michael Valente, Holly Hosford-Dunn, Ross J. Roeser, Audiology Treatment, page 218:
  The footplate of the stapes develops and ossifies in conjunction with the otic capsule and thus takes its origin from the otic placode in the embryo.
The part of a roller skate that attaches to the boot.
(construction) A timber in a wood frame that distributes a concentrated load.
(auto parts) A platform on which the driver's foot rests but which, unlike a pedal, has no effect.

Derived terms edit

footplateman, footplate man

Verb edit

footplate (third-person singular simple present footplates, present participle footplating, simple past and past participle footplated)

(rail transport) To travel (or work) on the footplate of a locomotive.
- 1979 August, Michael Harris, “A line for all reasons: the North Yorkshire Moors Railway”, in Railway World, page 415:
  Hard work is required from men and machines as I was to experience later when footplating Lambton No 5 on five bogies battling its way up Newtondale.