adverb, adjective
- on foot; walking: I came afoot.
- astir; in progress: There is mischief afoot.
adjective, adverb (postpositive)
- in circulation or operation; astirmischief was afoot
- on or by foot
adj.
c.1200, afote, from a- “on” (see a- (1)) + foot (n.). Figurative sense of “in active operation” is from 1601 (“Julius Caesar”).