"pioneer"

pioneer?

someone who "makes a way for others to follow"

• Middle French pionnier ("foot soldier")
  • Old French peonier ("foot soldier")
    • Old French peon ("one who goes on foot")
      • Latin pedōnem ("pedestrian")
        • Latin ped- ("foot") + -ō [makes nouns]
          • Proto-Italic *pets
            • PIE *pōds ("foot")

pets?

…so what are "pets" (in English)?

• Scots pet ("tamed animal")
  • Middle Irish peta ("tamed animal", "pet")
    • French petit ("little"), i.e. little one
      • Latin pittitus ("little")
        • further roots unknown
        • [perhaps] Proto-Italic *paukos ("few")
          • [perhaps] PIE *peh2w- ("small")

…not at all to do with "feet" ;)