CIDE DICTIONARY
thumb,
n. [OE.
thombe,
thoumbe,
, AS. ; akin to OFries. th, D. duim, G. daumen, OHG. d, Icel. , Dan. tommelfinger, Sw. tumme, and perhaps to L. tumere to swell. √56. Cf. Thimble, Tumid.].
The short, thick first digit of the human hand, differing from the other fingers in having but two phalanges; the pollex. See
Pollex. [
1913 Webster]
"Upon his thumb he had of gold a ring."
[1913 Webster]
Thumb band, a twist of anything as thick as the thumb. Mortimer. -- Thumb blue, indigo in the form of small balls or lumps, used by washerwomen to blue linen, and the like. -- Thumb latch, a door latch having a lever formed to be pressed by the thumb. -- Thumb mark. (a) The mark left by the impression of a thumb, as on the leaves of a book. Longfellow. (b) The dark spot over each foot in finely bred black and tan terriers. -- Thumb nut, a nut for a screw, having wings to grasp between the thumb and fingers in turning it; also, a nut with a knurled rim for the same perpose. -- Thumb ring, a ring worn on the thumb. Shak. -- Thumb stall. (a) A kind of thimble or ferrule of iron, or leather, for protecting the thumb in making sails, and in other work. (b) (Mil.) A buckskin cushion worn on the thumb, and used to close the vent of a cannon while it is sponged, or loaded. -- Under one's thumb, completely under one's power or influence; in a condition of subservience. [Colloq.]
thumb, v. t.
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To handle awkwardly. Johnson. [1913 Webster]
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To play with the thumbs, or with the thumbs and fingers; as, to thumb over a tune. [1913 Webster]
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To soil or wear with the thumb or the fingers; to soil, or wear out, by frequent handling; also, to cover with the thumb;
as, to thumb the touch-hole of a cannon. [
1913 Webster]
"He gravely informed the enemy that all his cards had been thumbed to pieces, and begged them to let him have a few more packs."
[1913 Webster]
OXFORD DICTIONARY
thumb, n. & v.
--n.
1 a a short thick terminal projection on the human hand, set lower and apart from the other four and opposable to them. b a digit of other animals corresponding to this.
2 part of a glove etc. for a thumb.
--v.
1 tr. wear or soil (pages etc.) with a thumb (a well-thumbed book).
2 intr. turn over pages with or as with a thumb (thumbed through the directory).
3 tr. request or obtain (a lift in a passing vehicle) by signalling with a raised thumb.
4 tr. use the thumb in a gesture.
be all thumbs be clumsy with one's hands. thumb index n. a set of lettered grooves cut down the side of a diary, dictionary, etc. for easy reference.
--v.tr. provide (a book etc.) with these. thumb one's nose = cock a snook (see SNOOK(1)). thumb-nut a nut shaped for turning with the thumb and forefinger. thumbs down an indication of rejection or failure. thumbs up an indication of satisfaction or approval. under a person's thumb completely dominated by a person.
thumbed adj. (also in comb.). thumbless adj.
OE thuma f. a WG root = swell
THESAURUS
thumb
OK, accept, all thumbs, annulary, approve of, awkward, be contemptuous of, catch a ride, clumsy, come in contact, contemn, dactylion, deride, digit, disapprove of, dismiss, feel, feel of, finger, flick, flip through, flout, forefinger, ham-fisted, handle, hitch, hitch a ride, hitch rides, hitchhike, index, index finger, jeer at, little finger, maladroit, manipulate, medius, middle finger, minimus, mock, okay, palm, palpate, paw, pinkie, ply, poke at, pollex, prod, rebuff, reject, ring finger, scoff at, scorn, tap,
thumb through, touch, turn down, twiddle, welcome, wield
ROGET THESAURUS
thumb
Touch
N
touch, tact, taction, tactility, feeling, palpation, palpability, contrectation, manipulation, massage, hand, finger, forefinger,
thumb, paw, feeler, antenna, palpus, tactual, tactile, tangible, palpable, lambent.
VB
touch, feel, handle, finger,
thumb, paw, fumble, grope, grabble, twiddle, tweedle, pass the fingers over, run the fingers over, manipulate, wield, throw out a feeler.