cord foot: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Very LowTechnical / Niche Commercial
Quick answer
What does “cord foot” mean?
A unit of volume for stacked firewood, specifically one foot of length from a pile that is four feet high and eight feet long.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A unit of volume for stacked firewood, specifically one foot of length from a pile that is four feet high and eight feet long.
A standardized measurement in the timber and firewood industry, representing 128 cubic feet of wood, bark, and air space.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term is predominantly used in North America (US and Canada). In the UK and other Commonwealth countries, firewood is more commonly sold by weight (tonne) or by the 'stere' (a cubic metre stack). 'Cord foot' would be unfamiliar to most British English speakers.
Connotations
In American English, it connotes a traditional, rural method of selling firewood. In British English, it has no specific connotation due to its rarity.
Frequency
Virtually exclusive to American English in technical forestry contexts. Extremely rare in British English.
Grammar
How to Use “cord foot” in a Sentence
[Number] cord foot/feet of [Type of Wood]sell/buy/measure in cord feetVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “cord foot” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
adverb
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
adjective
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used in invoices and contracts for firewood sales: 'Delivery of 4 cord feet of seasoned oak.'
Academic
Found in forestry and natural resource management textbooks discussing traditional wood measurement.
Everyday
Extremely rare; used only by individuals who buy or sell large quantities of firewood.
Technical
Precise definition used in forestry standards and regulations to define a volume of stacked wood.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “cord foot”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “cord foot”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “cord foot”
- Writing as one word: 'cordfoot'.
- Confusing it with a linear foot of cord/rope.
- Using it to describe the length of a single log rather than a volume of stacked wood.
- Pronouncing 'cord' with a hard 'r' in British English (it's non-rhotic).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. A cord foot is one-eighth of a full cord. A full cord is 128 cubic feet (4' x 4' x 8'), while a cord foot is 16 cubic feet (1' x 4' x 8').
No. It is a highly specialized term. Unless you are working in the North American forestry or firewood industry, you are very unlikely to encounter it.
Typically no. 'Cord foot' is used for unprocessed or roughly cut firewood stacked with air spaces. Processed lumber (boards, planks) is measured in board feet.
The standard plural is 'cord feet' (e.g., 'three cord feet').
A unit of volume for stacked firewood, specifically one foot of length from a pile that is four feet high and eight feet long.
Cord foot is usually technical / niche commercial in register.
Cord foot: in British English it is pronounced /ˈkɔːd ˌfʊt/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈkɔːrd ˌfʊt/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “N/A”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a CORD of wood tied together. One FOOT of length cut from that long cord is a CORD FOOT. It's a foot-long slice of the standard pile.
Conceptual Metaphor
MEASUREMENT IS DIVISION (of a larger whole).
Practice
Quiz
In which industry is the term 'cord foot' primarily used?