heel

I. noun Etymology: Middle English, from Old English hēla; akin to Old Norse hæll heel, Old English hōh — more at hock Date: before 12th century 1. a. the back of the human foot below the ankle and behind the arch b. the part of the hind limb of other vertebrates that is homologous with the human heel 2. an anatomical structure suggestive of the human heel; especially the part of the palm of the hand nearest the wrist 3. one of the crusty ends of a loaf of bread 4. a. the part (as of a shoe) that covers the human heel b. a solid attachment of a shoe or boot forming the back of the sole under the heel of the foot 5. a rear, low, or bottom part: as a. the after end of a ship's keel or the lower end of a mast b. the base of a tuber or cutting of a plant used for propagation c. the base of a ladder 6. a contemptible person • heelless adjective II. verb Date: 1605 transitive verb 1. a. to furnish with a heel b. to supply especially with money 2. a. to exert pressure on, propel, or strike with the heel <

heeled her horse

> b. to urge (as a lagging animal) by following closely or by nipping at the heels <

dogs heeling cattle

> intransitive verb to move along at someone's heels III. verb Etymology: alteration of Middle English heelden, from Old English hieldan; akin to Old High German hald inclined, Lithuanian šalis side, region Date: 1575 intransitive verb to lean to one side ; tip; especially of a boat or ship to lean temporarily (as from the action of wind or waves) — compare list transitive verb to cause (a boat) to heel IV. noun Date: 1760 a tilt (as of a boat) to one side; also the extent of such a tilt