The indoor male servant beneath the butler and superior in rank to the boy or page. "Typically he cleaned and trimmed the lamps, waited at table at fancy dinner parties and went out with the ladies of the house when they went to pay calls, where it was his job to dash up the steps with a calling card and inquire if anyone was at home while his mistress waited in the carriage. He often wore old fashioned livery consisting of knee breeches and silk stockings. Footmen were accordingly evaluated quite seriously by the appearance of their calves." If one had more than one footman, one was supposed to make sure they matched in height.

a man employed as a servant in a large establishment (as a palace) to run errands and do chores

a male servant who waits directly on the person that they are employed by - common duties will include opening and closing doors, or serving meals

male servant under the authority of the butler. They served at dinner, accompanied ladies of the house on errands and social calls, and looked after the lamps and candles in a house. They wore old-fashioned livery with knee-breeches and powdered wigs. Because the country was at war and needed all the able-bodied men it could get to fight Napoleon, there was a steep tax placed on male servants. Thus, having them was a status symbol.

A footman (plural -men) is a male servant, notably as domestic staff. The term is also used to describe an article of furniture.