Toe

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /təʊ/

Definitions

1. The front digit of the foot, typically one of five, used for balance and movement
2. A digit found at the end of each foot that plays an essential role in maintaining balance and aiding in locomotion during various movements
3. An extremity at the foot's edge, usually among five, that facilitates walking and provides stability during various activities

Etymology: The English word "toe" descends from an Old English "tā" and its Mercian form "tāhe," and its deepest root is a verb meaning "to show" or "to point out." The toe was, in other words, the digit that points. The Proto-Germanic ancestor "*tīhwaną" meant "to show, announce," and the same root gave Old English "teōn," "to accuse," as well as German "zeihen," "to blame." An accusation is a pointing-out, and a finger or toe that indicates something is doing the same job. The connection runs far beyond English. Dutch "teen," German "Zehe," Swedish "tå," and Icelandic "tá" all share the same ancestry, so the word has been pointing its way through the Germanic languages for well over a thousand years. Its relatives reach further still, to Latin "dīcere," "to say," and Greek "deiknumi," "to point out, show," which suggests that the root once carried the sense of indicating or making something visible.

Synonyms: digit, appendage