Foot-bottom

noun FOOT-BAT-tam fʊt ˈbatam

Also spelled foot bottom, foot battam

The sole of the foot — literally the 'bottom' of the foot. Since in Patois 'foot' covers the whole leg from hip to toe, 'foot-bottom' is needed to specify the underside, the sole, and 'mi foot-bottom a hurt mi' means the soles of my feet are hurting. It shows the plain, compound way Patois names the parts of the body — like 'hand-middle' for the palm and 'yeye-water' for tears — building a clear picture from everyday words, and it belongs to the whole homely, descriptive vocabulary of the body.

  • Mi foot-bottom bun mi from walking barefoot.

    The soles of my feet are burning from walking barefoot.

  • A jigga inna him foot-bottom.

    There's a chigoe flea in the sole of his foot.

  • Di hot sand bun mi foot-bottom.

    The hot sand burned the soles of my feet.

A compound — 'foot' plus 'bottom' — for the sole; needed because Patois 'foot' means the whole leg.

The sole of the foot. Remember 'foot' in Patois = the whole leg, so 'foot-bottom' pinpoints the sole.