also: いきあし
noun
momentum of a boat; headway
Primarily used for the forward momentum or speed of a boat or ship through water. Can also refer to the pace of walking or progress in a broader sense.
風が弱まって、船の行き足が落ちた。
The wind weakened and the boat lost momentum.
この船は行き足が速い。
This boat has good headway.
Mixed kana spelling; less common but still encountered.
Alternate kanji spelling using 脚; rare.
Abbreviated kanji spelling; rare.
Alternate reading いきあし; used in some contexts.
Compound of 行き (yuki, 'going') + 足 (ashi, 'foot' or 'pace'). The term originally referred to the pace of walking, and by extension came to describe the forward momentum of a boat.