toe

Etymology

From Middle English to, from Old English tā, (Mercian) tāhe, from Proto-Germanic *taihwǭ (compare Dutch teen, German Zehe, Danish tå, Swedish tå), from *tīhwaną (“to show, announce”) (compare Old English teōn (“to accuse”), German zeihen (“to accuse, blame”)), from Proto-Indo-European *deyḱ- (“to show”) (compare Hittite [script needed] (tekkuššāi), Latin dīcere (“to say”), digitus (“finger”), Ancient Greek δείκνυμι (deíknumi, “to point out, show”), Sanskrit दिदेष्टि (dídeṣṭi), दिशति (diśáti)).

noun

1. Each of the five digits on the end of the foot.
2. An equivalent part in an animal.
3. That part of a shoe or sock covering the toe.
4. Something resembling a toe, especially at the bottom or extreme end of something.
   (golf) the extreme end of the head of a club.
   (hurling) the end of a hurley.
   (cricket) the tip of the bat farthest from the handle
   (kayaking) the bow; the front of the kayak.
   (geology) a bulbous protrusion at the front of a lava flow or landslide.
5. (dance, uncountable) An advanced form of ballet primarily performed by women, wearing pointe shoes.
6. (automotive) An alignment of the wheels of a road vehicle, either positive (toe in), meaning the wheels are closer together at the front than at the back, or negative (toe out), the other way round.
7. (engineering) The journal, or pivot, at the lower end of a revolving shaft or spindle, which rests in a step.
8. (engineering) A lateral projection at one end, or between the ends, of a piece, such as a rod or bolt, by means of which it is moved.
9. (engineering) A projection from the periphery of a revolving piece, acting as a cam to lift another piece.
10. (carpentry) The long side of an angled cut.
11. The upper end of the bit (cutting edge) of an axehead; as opposed to the heel (lower end).
12. (slang) cameltoe.
13. (Australia, New Zealand, slang, uncountable) Speed, energy, vigor.
    to have a lot of toe

verb

1. To furnish (a stocking, etc.) with a toe.
2. To touch, tap or kick with the toes.
   Just five minutes later the turnaround was complete when Arshavin toed the ball through to Bendtner, who slotted into the left corner from close range just before half-time. December 29, 2010, Mark Vesty, “Wigan 2 - 2 Arsenal”, in BBC
3. (transitive) To touch or reach with the toes; to come fully up to.
   to toe the mark
4. (construction) To fasten (a piece) by driving a fastener at a near-45-degree angle through the side (of the piece) into the piece to which it is to be fastened.
   The framers toed the irregular pieces into the sill.
5. (golf) To mishit a golf ball with the toe of the club.