Left-footer

Left-footer is a British expression, probably of Ulster or Scottish origin, and is derogatory for a Roman Catholic. The first citation is obscure. Some sources maintain it dates from the 19th century, others from the early 20th century. The most favoured origin is that it derives from the old Southern Irish peat spade that only had one haft for the foot, which was on the left side, as opposed to the Ulster spade that had a haft on both sides like most spades. Southern Irish peat labourers would of course be Roman Catholics and would use only the left foot on their ‘left-footed’ spades. The expression is probably also linked to age-old superstitions that distrust left-sidedness in general.