Heel

Pronunciation

• IPA: /hiːl/
• Rhymes: -iːl
• Homophones: heal, he'll, hill (in some dialects)

From Middle English hele, heel, from Old English hēla, from Proto-Germanic *hanhilaz (cf. North Frisian hael, Dutch hiel, Danish hæl, Swedish häl), diminutive of Proto-Germanic *hanhaz ("hock"). More at hock.

Full definition of heel

Noun

1. (anatomy) The rear part of the foot, where it joins the leg.
• DenhamHe stag calls to mind his strength and then his speed,
  His winged heels and then his armed head.
2. The part of a shoe's sole which supports the foot's heel.
3. The rear part of a sock or similar covering for the foot.
4. (firearms) The back upper part of the stock.
5. The last or lowest part of anything; as, the heel of a mast or the heel of a vessel.
• A. Trollopethe heel of a hunt
6. (US, Ireland) A crust end-piece of a loaf of bread.
• Sir Walter Scottthe heel of the white loaf
7. (US) The base of a bun sliced in half lengthwise.
• 1996, Ester Reiter, Making Fast Food: From the Frying Pan Into the Fryer (page 100)The bottom half, or the bun heel is placed in the carton, and the pickle slices spread evenly over the meat or cheese.
8. A contemptible, inconsiderate or thoughtless person.
9. (slang, professional wrestling) A wrestler whose on-ring persona embodies villainous or reprehensible traits. Contrast with babyface.
• 1992, Bruce Lincoln, Discourse and the Construction of Society (page 158)Freedman began his analysis by noting two important facts about professional wrestling: First, that heels triumph considerably more often than do babyfaces...
10. (card games) The cards set aside for later use in a patience or solitaire game.
11. Anything regarded as like a human heel in shape; a protuberance; a knob.
12. (architecture) The lower end of a timber in a frame, as a post or rafter. Specifically, (US), the obtuse angle of the lower end of a rafter set sloping.
13. (architecture) A cyma reversa; so called by workmen.
14. (carpentry) the short side of an angled cut

Antonyms

• (angled cut in carpentry) toe

Derived terms

Verb

1. To follow at somebody's heels; to chase closely.
2. To add a heel to, or increase the size of the heel of (a shoe or boot).
3. To kick with the heel.
4. (transitive) To perform by the use of the heels, as in dancing, running, etc.
• ShakespeareI cannot sing,
  Nor heel the high lavolt.
5. (transitive) To arm with a gaff, as a cock for fighting.

Alteration of earlier heeld, from Middle English heelden, from Old English hyldan, hieldan ("to incline"), cognate with Old Norse hella ("to pour out") ( >

Danish hælde ("lean, pour")). More at hield.

Verb

1. (intransitive) To incline to one side, to tilt (especially of ships).

Noun

1. The act of inclining or canting from a vertical position; a cant.The ship gave a heel to port.

Synonyms

• heeling

Anagrams

• hele