Category:Thumb

In other languages, the word for "thumb" is:
Chamorro: da'ma'gas (It also means toes.)

Thumb, n. Etym: [oe. thombe, thoumbe,, as. ; akin to ofries. th, d. Duim, g. daumen, ohg. d, icel. , dan. tommelfinger, sw. tunne, and Perhaps to l. tumere to swell. *56. Cf. Thimble, tumid.]

Defn: the short, thick first digit of the human hand, differing from The other fingers in having but two phalanges; the pollex. See Pollex. Upon his thumb he had of gold a ring. Chaucer. 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 Thumb, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Thumbed; p. pr. & vb. n. Thumbing.]

1. To handle awkwardly. Johnson.

2. To play with the thumbs, or with the thumbs and fingers; as, to Thumb over a tune.

3. 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. 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. Macaulay.

Thumb Thumb, v. i.

Defn: to play with the thumb or thumbs; to play clumsily; to thrum.