footpage

English

Etymology

foot +‎ page

Noun

footpage (plural footpages)

1. A young man who is employed to run errands; errand boy.
   • 1923, H. P. Lovecraft, The Conservative:

     A' this beheard a little footpage, Fast hid ahind a tree; An' he's awa' to seek his laird, Sae fast as he can hie.

   • 1801, Joanna Southcott, Collected Tracts - Volume 5, page 90:

     After Lord Burnet was gone to the Chace, Musgroves and Lady Burnet went to bed together, which the little Footpage made an excuse to go to the Lady's room; and, seeing them in bed together, said, that Lord Burnet should know it before any sleep had closed his eyes.

   • 1871, Julia Goddard, Wonderful Stories from Northern Lands, page 115:

     He turned, therefore, to his little footpage. ' Go swiftly,' quoth he, ' and bring me my golden harp.'

   • 1997, Jean Ritchie, Folk Songs of the Southern Appalachians as Sung by Jean Ritchie, →ISBN:

     All this was heard by a little footpage, By his lady's coach as he ran, Says he, I am my lady's footpage, I will be Lord Arnol's man.