Definition of "footing"

In ascents, every step gained is a footing and help to the next.

1669, William Holder, Elements of Speech: An Essay of Inquiry into the Natural Production of Letters: […], London: […] T. N[ewcomb] for J[ohn] Martyn printer to the R[oyal] Society, […]

As soon, however, as he had obtained a footing at court, the charms of his manner […] made him a favorite.

1849, Thomas Babington Macaulay, The History of England from the Accession of James II, volume II, London: Longman, Brown, Green, and Longmans

While the California economy maintains its powerhouse status […] the state’s most-powerful sectors […] have struggled to keep their footing, pummeled by high interest rates, investor skittishness, labor strife and other turmoil.

2023 April 11, Kurtis Lee, “California Economy Is on Edge After Tech Layoffs and Studio Cutbacks”, in The New York Times‎

[L]ived on a footing of equality with nobles.

1856 December, [Thomas Babington] Macaulay, “Samuel Johnson ”, in T[homas] F[lower] E[llis], editor, The Miscellaneous Writings and Speeches of Lord Macaulay, new edition, London: Longman, Green, Reader, & Dyer, published 1871

Hark, I hear the footing of a man.

c. 1596–1598 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Merchant of Venice”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, (please specify the act number in uppercase Roman numerals, and the scene number in lowercase Roman numerals)

The Monster swift as word, that from her went, Went forth in hast, and did her footing trace […].

1590, Edmund Spenser, “Book III, Canto VII”, in The Faerie Queene. […], London: […] [John Wolfe] for William Ponsonbie

A man must doe as some wilde beasts, which at the entrance of their caves, will have no manner of footing seene.

1603, Michel de Montaigne, chapter 38, in John Florio, transl., The Essayes […], book I, London: […] Val[entine] Simmes for Edward Blount […]

So he marched his army along the river with seven legions, little less than four thousand horse, and as many light-armed soldiers, and the scouts returning declared that not one man appeared, but that they saw the footing of a great many horses which seemed to be retiring in flight, whereupon Crassus conceived great hopes, and the Romans began to despise the Parthians, as men that would not come to combat, hand to hand.

1683, John Dryden, transl., Plutarch's Lives: Life of Crassus, translation of original by Plutarch

Terry lost his footing to allow Van Persie to race clear for Arsenal's fourth after 85 minutes before the Netherlands striker completed a second treble against Chelsea by hammering his third past Petr Cech deep into stoppage time.

2011 October 29, Phil McNulty, “Chelsea 3-5 Arsenal”, in BBC Sport

The auditing of the accounts, when the defendant was present, was nothing more than the examinings of the footings of the bookkeeper.

1866, Francis A. Corliss, Supreme Court, County of New York, page 111