footing

noun14

1. •
   A ground for the foot; place for the foot to rest on; firm foundation to stand on.

   • In ascents, every step gained is a footing and help to the next. — 1669
2. •
   Stability or balance when standing on one's feet.

   • He lost his footing and fell down.
   • It was difficult to keep my footing on the ship during the storm.
3. •
   Mental stability or balance.

   • It's a lot for anybody to go through. But, while the others took weeks - hell, even months - to get used to everything, myself included, you found your footing in a matter of days. — 2026
4. •
   A standing; position; established place; foothold.

   • As soon, however, as he had obtained a footing at court, the charms of his manner […] made him a favorite. — 1849
5. •
   Foundation or basis for further advancement or development.

   • The subsidy gives the organization a firm footing.
6. •
   A relative condition; state.

   • [L]ived on a footing of equality with nobles. — 1856
7. •
   The thickened or sloping portion of a wall, or of an embankment at its foot; foundation.
8. •
   The act of adding up a column of figures; the amount or sum total of such a column.

   • The auditing of the accounts, when the defendant was present, was nothing more than the examinings of the footings of the bookkeeper. — 1866
9. •
   A double-check of the numbers vertically.
10. •
    (old-fashioned) A tread; step; especially, a measured tread.

    • Hark, I hear the footing of a man. — 1596
11. •
    The act of putting a foot to anything; also, that which is added as a foot
12. •
    (rare) A footprint or footprints; tracks, someone's trail.

    • The Monster swift as word, that from her went, Went forth in hast, and did her footing trace[…]. — 1590
13. •
    A narrow cotton lace, without figures.
14. •
    The finer refuse part of whale blubber, not wholly deprived of oil.