spindrift

Pronounced: SPIN-drift, noun

Notes: I don’t have any memory of running across this word

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Yesterday’s word

The word flatfooted means

• clumsy; unimaginative; uninspired
• forthright
• unprepared
• uncompromising
• having the arch of the foot flattened so the entire sole touches the ground

First usage

Our word came into English in the early 1600s

Background / Comments

I knew three of the definitions – how did you do? I knew the phrase “to be caught flatfooted” (unprepared, #3 above). I knew #5, which is probably the technical meaning. I have also run across the first definition above. But both the second and fourth definitions above were unknown to me. Our word is made up of flat, which came from the Old Norse word flatr, and foot, which came from the Old English word fot.