Definition

A stone that is placed at the foot of a grave to mark it.

Example

The footstone was engraved with the name of the deceased.

Conversation

I visited my grandmother's grave yesterday and noticed the footstone had some moss on it.

Oh really? It's important to keep those clean, isn't it?

Yeah, I thought about bringing some water next time to wash it off.

That sounds like a nice idea. It’s good to show that we care.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Footstone → It is formed from "foot" (from Old English "fōt", meaning the lower extremity of the leg) and "stone" (from Old English "stan", meaning a solid mineral material). The word "footstone" refers to a stone that is placed at the foot of a grave or monument.

Memory Tip

Think of the 'foot' as the base or lower part and 'stone' as a solid material — a footstone is a stone placed at the base of something.

Visually Confused Words