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flatfoot

noun flat·foot \ ˈflat-ˌfu̇t (always so in sense 3) , ˌflat-ˈfu̇t \

Definition of flatfoot

plural flatfeet play \ˈflat-ˌfēt, ˌflat-ˈfēt\
1 :a condition in which the arch of the instep is flattened so that the entire sole rests upon the ground
2 :a foot affected with flatfoot
3 a or plural flatfoots, slang :police officer; especially :a patrolman walking a regular beat
b slang :sailor

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From the M-W Editors

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Examples of flatfoot in a Sentence

  1. a comic strip about a square-jawed, trench-coated flatfoot who always caught the crooks in suitably dramatic fashion

Did You Know?

In 1899 the police officers of Akron, Ohio, climbed aboard the first police car (a patrol wagon powered by an electric motor). In that same year the noun flatty was first used in print with the meaning "police officer." Mere coincidence? Maybe, but consider that quite a few similar words have been used over the years to distinguish pedestrian officers from mobile ones, including flat, flat arch, flathead, flatter, and flatfoot. Other notable (and more comic) descriptors are pavement pounder and sidewalk snail. Flatfoot dates its "police officer" sense from 1913. It is especially used of those footing it to keep our cities safe, but it can also refer to police in general.

First Known Use of flatfoot

1860

flatfoot Synonyms

Synonyms
bobby [British], bull [slang], constable [chiefly British], cop, copper, officer [slang], fuzz, gendarme, lawman, policeman, police officer, shamus [slang]
Related Words
patrolman, policewoman; detective, dick, gumshoe, hawkshaw, inspector, investigator, plainclothesman, sherlock, sleuth, sleuthhound; marshal (also marshall), sheriff, trooper; peace officer; captain, lieutenant, sergeant; constabulary, heat [slang], man, police, police force; operative, private detective, private eye, private investigator
Near Antonyms
civilian

Medical Dictionary

flatfoot

noun flat·foot \ -ˈfu̇t, -ˌfu̇t \

medical Definition of flatfoot

plural flatfeet play \-ˈfēt, -ˌfēt\
1 :a condition in which the arch of the instep is flattened so that the entire sole rests upon the ground
2 :a foot affected with flatfoot

Learn More about flatfoot

  1. See words that rhyme with flatfoot Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for flatfoot Britannica English: Translation of flatfoot for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about flatfoot

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Examples: flatfoot in a Sentence
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