Dictionary

four foot en · NOUN · etymology 1

Etymology

From the 4 feet 8½ inch (1435 mm) distance between the rails on a standard gauge railway.

Meanings

1. (colloquial, uncountable) the space between the rails on a standard gauge railway line.
   • In this case, the third crossing i.e., where one turnout crosses the other, is in the four foot of the main 1922, J. Thomas Lee, William Hepworth, Railway Permanent Way: Dimensional Theory and Practice, C. Sever, Page 224
   • The reason for this is, that as in these cases there are obstructions in the four foot which might become foul of wheels of stock … Page 48 For ‘ E ’ and ‘ F ’ switches the key jaw is provided on the inside of the four-foot in the 1.P. and 2.P. chairs, as in these chairs there is not room between the switch and stock rails … 1943, C. L. Heeler and Ronald Albert Hamnett, British Railway Track: Design, Construction and Maintenance, Permanent Way Institution Page 19
   • The importance of track workers obeying site rules has been stressed after a man was hospitalised after being hit by a moving road-rail vehicle (RRV) and falling into the 'four foot' between the rails. 2024 June 26, “Network News: RAIB stresses importance of road-rail vehicle vehicle safety procedures”, in RAIL, number 1012, page 17:
   • Cattle are of course liable to stray on the line at these level crossings, but to prevent this, barriers are placed on each side of the crossing, and a deep trench is made in the four-foot and six-foot spaces, … 1882, George P. Neele, Atlantic and American Notes, M'Corquodale & co., limited, Page 54
   • 2007 September 5, Rail Accident Investigation Branch, Rail Accident Report 33/2007: Fatal collision between a Super Voyager train and a car on the line at Copmanthorpe 25 September 2006, Rail Accident Investigation Branch, Department for Transport, Page 8 http://www.raib.gov.uk/cms_resources/070905_R332007_Copmanthorpe.pdf The car came to rest with its front wheels in the four foot of the nearest railway line, the down Leeds line.
   • When placed in the four foot it should be so arranged that a loose carraige coupling shall not strike the box, as such a blow might possibly break it. 1877, William Edward Langdon, The Application of Electricity to Railway Working, Page 230

Forms

four foot en · NOUN · etymology 2

Meanings

1. (alt-of, alternative, uncountable) Alternative form of 4-foot.
   alt of 4-foot

Forms

Relateds

six foot