flatfoot

Etymology

flat +‎ foot

Noun

flatfoot (plural flatfoots or flatfeet)

1. (chiefly in the plural) A condition in which the arch of the foot makes contact with the ground
2. A person having the above condition
3. (colloquial, archaic, pejorative, law enforcement) (plural typically flatfoots) A policeman

Verb

flatfoot (third-person singular simple present flatfoots, present participle flatfooting, simple past and past participle flatfooted)

1. To walk around in the course of work, especially when investigating.
   • 1936, John Thomas McIntyre, Steps going down, page 19:

     And even if they didn't know about her they might know this was his old neighborhood and go flatfooting around asking.

   • 1956, Lee Mortimer, Around the World Confidential, page 38:

     Meanwhile, a bobby placidly flatfooting his beat a few feet away recognized Marlene under the street lamp and naturally assumed the girls had too, and were merely trying to get her autograph.

   • 2017 -, Adam Baron, SuperJack: A totally gripping thriller with a twist you won’t see coming, →ISBN:

     I'd spent a very long day flatfooting it round housing estates near Old Street, looking for a twelve-year-old boy who I'd never managed to find though the police eventually had, two weeks later.

2. To dance in the style of Appalachian clogging.
   • 2014, Sarah Loudin Thomas, Appalachian Serenade (Appalachian Blessings): A Novella, →ISBN:

     Casewell, George, and Steve had the crowd flatfooting across the floor in no time.

3. To gulp an entire drink (bottle, glass, can, etc.) without pausing between swallows.
   • 2012, Dana Stabenow -, A Grave Denied, →ISBN:

     “Thanks, Kate,” Bill Bingley said, laying down a screw gun and flatfooting the Coke she handed him.