A low stool or cushioned support for resting one's feet while seated.
From Old English 'fotstol,' literally 'foot stool.' But the concept has royal origins - footstools were symbols of power in ancient courts, representing the earth beneath a ruler's feet. Psalm 110 refers to enemies becoming a 'footstool,' and many throne rooms featured elaborate footstools to elevate the monarch both literally and symbolically above common ground.
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