A platform or flat surface designed for the feet to rest on, commonly found on vehicles, machinery, or furniture.
From foot + plate (a flat piece of material), combining Old English 'fōt' with plate (from Old French 'plate,' flat). The term became common in the industrial age with the development of machinery and vehicles.
On steam locomotives, the footplate was a dangerous place to work—engineers stood on that little platform for hours in extreme heat, often leaning out into tunnels and spray, which is why old locomotive men had such distinctive calloused feet and burns.
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