Adjacent Words

Heel definitions

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Webster's 1828 Dictionary

HEEL, n. [L. calx; Gr. a tumor.]
1. The hind part of the foot, particularly of man; but it is applied also to the corresponding part of the feet of quadrupeds.
2. The whole foot.
The stag recalls his strength, his speed,
His winged heels--
3. The hind part of a shoe, either for man or beast.
4. The part of a stocking intended for the heel.
To be out at the heels, is to have on stockings that are worn out.
5. Something shaped like the human heel; a protuberance or knob.
6. The latter part; as, a bill was introduced into the legislature at the heel of the session.
7. A spur.
This horse understands the heel well.
8. The after end of a ship's keel; the lower end of the stern-post to which it is connected; also,the lower end of a mast.
To be at the heels, to pursue closely; to follow hard; also, to attend closely.
Hungry want is at my heels.
To show the heels, to flee; to run from.
To take to the heels, to flee; to betake to flight.
To lay by the heels, to fetter; to shackle; to confine.
To have the heels of, to outrun.
Neck and heels, the whole length of the body.
HEEL, v.i. To dance.
HEEL, v.t. To arm a cock.
1. To add a heel to; as, to heel a shoe.
HEEL v.i. To incline; to lean; as a ship; as, the ship heels a-port, or a star-board.

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

n
1: the bottom of a shoe or boot; the back part of a shoe or boot that touches the ground and provides elevation
2: the back part of the human foot
3: someone who is morally reprehensible; "you dirty dog" [syn: cad, bounder, blackguard, dog, hound, heel]
4: one of the crusty ends of a loaf of bread
5: the lower end of a ship's mast
6: (golf) the part of the clubhead where it joins the shaft v
1: tilt to one side; "The balloon heeled over"; "the wind made the vessel heel"; "The ship listed to starboard" [syn: list, heel]
2: follow at the heels of a person
3: perform with the heels; "heel that dance"
4: strike with the heel of the club; "heel a golf ball"
5: put a new heel on; "heel shoes" [syn: heel, reheel]

Merriam Webster's

I. noun Etymology: Middle English, from Old English h?la; akin to Old Norse hæll heel, Old English h?h — 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

Oxford Reference Dictionary

1. n. & v. --n. 1 the back part of the foot below the ankle. 2 the corresponding part in vertebrate animals. 3 a the part of a sock etc. covering the heel. b the part of a shoe or boot supporting the heel. 4 a thing like a heel in form or position, e.g. the part of the palm next to the wrist, the end of a violin bow at which it is held, or the part of a golf club near where the head joins the shaft. 5 the crust end of a loaf of bread. 6 colloq. a person regarded with contempt or disapproval. 7 (as int.) a command to a dog to walk close to its owner's heel. --v. 1 tr. fit or renew a heel on (a shoe or boot). 2 intr. touch the ground with the heel as in dancing. 3 intr. (foll. by out) Rugby Football pass the ball with the heel. 4 tr. Golf strike (the ball) with the heel of the club. Phrases and idioms: at heel 1 (of a dog) close behind. 2 (of a person etc.) under control. at (or on) the heels of following closely after (a person or event). cool (or kick) one's heels be kept waiting. down at heel 1 (of a shoe) with the heel worn down. 2 (of a person) shabby. take to one's heels run away. to heel 1 (of a dog) close behind. 2 (of a person etc.) under control. turn on one's heel turn sharply round. well-heeled colloq. wealthy. Derivatives: heelless adj. Etymology: OE hela, hæla f. Gmc 2. v. & n. --v. 1 intr. (of a ship etc.) lean over owing to the pressure of wind or an uneven load (cf. LIST(2)). 2 tr. cause (a ship etc.) to do this. --n. the act or amount of heeling. Etymology: prob. f. obs. heeld, hield incline, f. OE hieldan, OS -heldian f. Gmc 3. var. of HELE.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Heel Heel, n. 1. (Golf) The part of the face of the club head nearest the shaft. 2. In a carding machine, the part of a flat nearest the cylinder.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Heel Heel, v. t. 1. (Golf) To hit (the ball) with the heel of the club. 2. (Football) To make (a fair catch) standing with one foot advanced, the heel on the ground and the toe up.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Heel Heel, n. [OE. hele, heele, AS. h[=e]la, perh. for h[=o]hila, fr. AS. h[=o]h heel (cf. Hough); but cf. D. hiel, OFries. heila, h[=e]la, Icel. h[ae]ll, Dan. h[ae]l, Sw. h["a]l, and L. calx. [root]12. Cf. Inculcate.] 1. The hinder part of the foot; sometimes, the whole foot; -- in man or quadrupeds. He [the stag] calls to mind his strength and then his speed, His winged heels and then his armed head. --Denham. 2. The hinder part of any covering for the foot, as of a shoe, sock, etc.; specif., a solid part projecting downward from the hinder part of the sole of a boot or shoe. 3. The latter or remaining part of anything; the closing or concluding part. ``The heel of a hunt.'' --A. Trollope. ``The heel of the white loaf.'' --Sir W. Scott. 4. Anything regarded as like a human heel in shape; a protuberance; a knob. 5. The part of a thing corresponding in position to the human heel; the lower part, or part on which a thing rests; especially: (a) (Naut.) The after end of a ship's keel. (b) (Naut.) The lower end of a mast, a boom, the bowsprit, the sternpost, etc. (c) (Mil.) In a small arm, the corner of the but which is upwards in the firing position. (d) (Mil.) The uppermost part of the blade of a sword, next to the hilt. (e) The part of any tool next the tang or handle; as, the heel of a scythe. 6. (Man.) Management by the heel, especially the spurred heel; as, the horse understands the heel well. 7. (Arch.) (a) The lower end of a timber in a frame, as a post or rafter. In the United States, specif., the obtuse angle of the lower end of a rafter set sloping. (b) A cyma reversa; -- so called by workmen. --Gwilt. Heel chain (Naut.), a chain passing from the bowsprit cap around the heel of the jib boom. Heel plate, the butt plate of a gun. Heel of a rafter. (Arch.) See Heel, n., 7. Heel ring, a ring for fastening a scythe blade to the snath. Neck and heels, the whole body. (Colloq.) To be at the heels of, to pursue closely; to follow hard; as, hungry want is at my heels. --Otway. To be down at the heel, to be slovenly or in a poor plight. To be out at the heels, to have on stockings that are worn out; hence, to be shabby, or in a poor plight. --Shak. To cool the heels. See under Cool. To go heels over head, to turn over so as to bring the heels uppermost; hence, to move in a inconsiderate, or rash, manner. To have the heels of, to outrun. To lay by the heels, to fetter; to shackle; to imprison. --Shak. --Addison. To show the heels, to flee; to run from. To take to the heels, to flee; to betake to flight. To throw up another's heels, to trip him. --Bunyan. To tread upon one's heels, to follow closely. --Shak.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Heel Heel (h[=e]l), v. i. [OE. helden to lean, incline, AS. heldan, hyldan; akin to Icel. halla, Dan. helde, Sw. h["a]lla to tilt, pour, and perh. to E. hill.] (Naut.) To lean or tip to one side, as a ship; as, the ship heels aport; the boat heeled over when the squall struck it. Heeling error (Naut.), a deviation of the compass caused by the heeling of an iron vessel to one side or the other.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Heel Heel, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Heeled; p. pr. & vb. n. Heeling.] 1. To perform by the use of the heels, as in dancing, running, and the like. [R.] I cannot sing, Nor heel the high lavolt. --Shak. 2. To add a heel to; as, to heel a shoe. 3. To arm with a gaff, as a cock for fighting.

Collin's Cobuild Dictionary

(heels) 1. Your heel is the back part of your foot, just below your ankle. N-COUNT 2. The heel of a shoe is the raised part on the bottom at the back. ...the shoes with the high heels. N-COUNT 3. Heels are women's shoes that are raised very high at the back. ...two well-dressed ladies in high heels... ...the old adage that you shouldn't wear heels with trousers. N-PLURAL 4. The heel of a sock or stocking is the part that covers your heel. N-COUNT 5. The heel of your hand is the rounded pad at the bottom of your palm. N-COUNT: N of n 6. see also Achilles heel 7. If you bring someone to heel, you force them to obey you. It's still not clear how the president will use his power to bring the republics to heel. PHRASE: V inflects 8. If you dig your heels in or dig in your heels, you refuse to do something such as change your opinions or plans, especially when someone is trying very hard to make you do so. It was really the British who, by digging their heels in, prevented any last-minute deal. PHRASE: V inflects 9. If you say that one event follows hard on the heels of another or hot on the heels of another, you mean that one happens very quickly or immediately after another. Unfortunately, bad news has come hard on the heels of good... PHRASE: PHR after v, PHR n 10. If you say that someone is hot on your heels, you are emphasizing that they are chasing you and are not very far behind you. They sped through the American southwest with the law hot on their heels. PHRASE: usu v-link PHR [emphasis] 11. If you are kicking your heels, you are having to wait around with nothing to do, so that you get bored or impatient. (BRIT INFORMAL) The authorities wouldn't grant us permission to fly all the way down to San Francisco, so I had to kick my heels at Tunis Airport. PHRASE: V inflects 12. If you turn on your heel or spin on your heel, you suddenly turn round, especially because you are angry or surprised. He simply turned on his heel and walked away. PHRASE: V inflects 13. head over heels: see head to drag your heels: see drag

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

hel (`aqebh): "The iniquity of my heels" (Ps 49:5 the King James Version) is a literal translation, and might be understood to indicate the Psalmist's "false steps," errors or sins, but that meaning is very doubtful here. the Revised Version (British and American) gives "iniquity at my heels." the Revised Version margin gives a still better sense, "When the iniquity of them that would supplant me compasseth me about, even of them that trust in .... riches"--treacherous enemies ever on the watch to trip up a man's heels (compare Ho 12:3). Of Judah it was said, "Thy heels (shall) suffer violence" (Jer 13:22) through being "made bare" (the King James Version), and thus subject to the roughness of the road as she was led captive.

Figurative:

(1) Of the partial victory of the evil power over humanity, "Thou shalt bruise (m "lie in wait for") his heel" (Ge 3:15), through constant, insidious suggestion of the satisfaction of the lower desires. Or if we regard this statement as a part of the Protevangelium, the earliest proclamation of Christ's final, and complete victory over sin, the destruction of "the serpent" ("He shall bruise thy head"), then the reference is evidently to Christ's sufferings and death, even to all that He endured in His human nature.

(2) Of the stealthy tactics of the tribe of Da in war, "An adder in the path, that biteth the horse's heels" (Ge 49:17), by which it triumphed over foes of superior strength.

(3) Of violence and brutality, "Who .... hath lifted up his heel against me" (Ps 41:9; Joh 13:18), i.e. lifted up his foot to trample upon me (compare Jos 10:24).

M. O. Evans

Soule's Dictionary of English Synonyms

I. n. 1. Back of the foot or stocking or shoe. 2. Support of the shoe or boot. 3. Foot, bottom, lower end. 4. Fag end, remnant, remainder, leavings. II. v. a. 1. Put a heel on, fit with a heel. 2. Arm with spurs, fit gaffs upon. 3. Perform with the heels, dance. III. v. n. (Naut.) Incline, lean.

Moby Thesaurus

SOB, accouter, afterpart, afterpiece, appoint, arch, arm, back, back door, back seat, back side, balance, bastard, bear off, bedog, behind, bend, blackguard, bounder, branch off, breech, broke, bugger, cad, cant, careen, change the bearing, chase, clubfoot, come about, come after, come behind, counter, creep, crust, curve, depart from, destitute, detour, deviate, digit, digress, divagate, divaricate, diverge, dog, dowdy, dress, end, equip, escape, extremity, fantail, fart, fetch about, fetlock, fit, fit out, fit up, flee, fly the coop, follow, foot, forefoot, forepaw, furnish, gear, go about, go after, go behind, harefoot, hind end, hind part, hindhead, hood, hoof, hooligan, hound, impoverished, in straitened circumstances, incline, instep, jerk, knave, lay down, lean, lean over, leavings, lie along, list, louse, lowlife, man, meanie, miscreant, mother, move behind, munition, occiput, out at elbows, outfit, pad, pastern, patte, paw, pedal extremity, pedes, pes, philanderer, pied, pill, pivot, pivot about, poop, poor, posterior, postern, prepare, pug, pursue, put about, rascal, rat, rear, rear end, rearward, recline, remainder, remains, remnant, residual, residue, residuum, rest, reverse, rig, rig out, rig up, rind, rogue, rotter, round, rudderpost, run away, run off, run-down, scamp, scoundrel, seedy, shabby, shadow, sheer, shift, shit, shithead, shitheel, slope, slovenly, sod, sole, spin, splayfoot, split, staff, stern, stinkard, stinker, strapped, string along, stump, swerve, swine, swing, swing round, swivel, tack, tag, tag after, tag along, tail, tail end, tailgate, tailpiece, take flight, tilt, tip, toe, tootsy, trail, trail after, tread close upon, trend, trotter, turd, turn, turn about, turn around, turn aside, turn out, turn round, turn tail, ungula, vary, veer, veer around, wheel, wheel about, whirl, worm