trench foot

A condition of the foot resembling frostbite, caused by prolonged exposure to cold and dampness and often affecting soldiers in trenches.

[From its occurrence among soldiers in trenches.]

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

trench foot

(Pathology) a form of frostbite affecting the feet of persons standing for long periods in cold water

Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

trench′ foot`

injury of the skin, blood vessels, and nerves of the feet due to prolonged exposure to cold and moisture, common among soldiers serving in trenches.

[1915–20]

ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:

Noun

trench foot - resembling frostbite but without freezing; resulting from exposure to cold and wet

immersion foot

cryopathy, frostbite - destruction of tissue by freezing and characterized by tingling, blistering and possibly gangrene

Mentioned in

References in periodicals archive

"The doctors thought I had trench foot and took a swab from it, dressed it, gave me antibiotics and sent me home."

Doctor ripped the skin off my infected foot

It became synonymous with the Wellington boot that saved so many British troops from trench foot during the First World War.

From rubber to canvas: Wellie factory reinvented as arts centre; Iconic former industrial site bounces back to life 50 years later

Actor Bravest feat: He got trench foot by going full "method" for epic film War Horse.

Who's Who Dares Wins

"We almost had trench foot. The bedding was wet all the time," he went on.

I'm A Celebrity star Nick Knowles launches bitter rant at Holly Willoughby over show's crew; DIY SOS host was left fuming by the lack of support for the campers

Lost a toe Pte R Duncan was home on leave after six months in hospital, during which he had a big toe amputated due to trench foot.

in brief

It's a shocking fact that some of the car wash workers in unregulated facilities are developing trench foot - which gets its name from the affliction of soldiers in WWI whose feet were never dry in the waterlogged trenches.

We must strive to consign slavery to history

In the last five years, 1,250 have successfully sued the Ministry of Defence after developing "trench foot" in freezing conditions.

Army's PS36m on trench foot compensation; Payout for pain linked to WWI

The most-common types of cold stress include hypothermia, frostbite, and trench foot.

Protecting Workers from "Cold Stress"

Trench foot was a real concern with some runners dropping out of the race from this condition.

Vicky tackles Britain's most brutal race; Running

Her health deteriorated so much that she developed the World War I condition Trench Foot and resorted to begging from strangers and taking food from bins.

THE REAL-LIFE CINDERELLA; girl so neglected she developed 'trench foot'

Army bosses have been swamped with compensation claims from more than 1000 soldiers suffering non-freezing cold injuries (NFCIs), similar to trench foot conditions suffered by soldiers on the frontline during World War I.

THE COLD WAR; PAYOUT BID TROOPS MAKE LEGAL CLAIMS Black and Asian soldiers seek compensation for injuries caused by low temperatures