A small cavity or notch deliberately chipped into the rock wall of a shaft, raise, or steep incline to serve as a step. Miners use these carved footholds to climb vertically or traverse steep sections where ladders are impractical or unavailable. They must be carefully maintained, as a worn edge can easily cause a fatal slip.
Heard on the job
The ladder only goes down to the third level, so you have to use the footholes cut into the hanging wall to reach the sump.