Question

He reflected awhile, rubbing his nose and cheeks, then skirted to the left, stepping gingerly and testing the footing for each step.

What does it mean if he stepping gingerly?

Answer 1

It means he is stepping carefully

Answer 2

Gingerly means “done with great care and caution”. So the phrase “Stepping gingerly” means that he is stepping on the ground tenderly and carefully.