c.1300, "foot soldier;" late 14c., "one who goes on foot," from foot, n. + man, n.. As a personal attendant, originally one who ran before or alongside his master's carriage, announcing its arrival (and keeping it from spilling). The non-jogging man-in-waitingt sense is from c.1700, though the running footmen still were in service mid-18c. From foot, n. + man, n..