heel

English

/hiːl/

noun
Definitions
  • (anatomy) The rear part of the foot, where it joins the leg.
  • The part of a shoe's sole which supports the foot's heel.
  • The rear part of a sock or similar covering for the foot.
  • The part of the palm of a hand closest to the wrist.
  • (usually) A woman's high-heeled shoe.
  • (firearms) The back, upper part of the stock.
  • The last or lowest part of anything.
  • (US) A crust end-piece of a loaf of bread.
  • (US) The base of a bun sliced in half lengthwise.
  • A contemptible, inconsiderate or thoughtless person.
  • (slang) A headlining wrestler regarded as a "bad guy," whose ring persona embodies villainous or reprehensible traits and demonstrates characteristics of a braggart and a bully.
  • (card games) The cards set aside for later use in a patience or solitaire game.
  • Anything resembling a human heel in shape; a protuberance; a knob.
  • (architecture) The lower end of a timber in a frame, as a post or rafter.
  • (specifically) The obtuse angle of the lower end of a rafter set sloping.
  • (architecture) A cyma reversa.
  • (carpentry) The short side of an angled cut.
  • (golf) The part of a club head's face nearest the shaft.
  • The lower end of the bit (cutting edge) of an axehead; as opposed to the toe (upper end).
  • In a carding machine, the part of a flat nearest the cylinder.

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English hele inherited from Old English hēla (heel) inherited from Proto-Germanic *hanhilaz (heel), *hanhaz (heel, hock) suffix from English hock.

Origin

English

hock

Gloss

Timeline

Distribution of cognates by language

Geogrpahic distribution of cognates

Cognates and derived terms