From WordNet (r) 2.0 (August 2003) [wn]:
footstep
n 1: the sound of a step of someone walking; "he heard footsteps
on the porch" [syn: footfall, step]
2: the act of taking a step in walking
3: the distance covered by a step; "he stepped off ten paces
from the old tree and began to dig" [syn: pace, step,
stride]
From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
Footstep \Foot"step`\, n.
1. The mark or impression of the foot; a track; hence,
visible sign of a course pursued; token; mark; as, the
footsteps of divine wisdom.
[1913 Webster]
How on the faltering footsteps of decay
Youth presses. --Bryant.
[1913 Webster]
2. An inclined plane under a hand printing press.
[1913 Webster]