toe

Meanings

1. 1
   verb

   drive obliquely

   toe a nail

2. 2
   verb

   walk so that the toes assume an indicated position or direction

   They toe inwards.

3. 3
   noun

   Each of the five digits on the end of the human foot.

   An old traditional prescription for provoking erotic inclinations ran as follows, The toe of the foot of a man, anointed with oil, or honey, or the ashes of a weasel.

4. 4
   noun

   Something resembling a toe, especially at the bottom or extreme end of something.

   (golf) the extreme end of the head of a club.

5. 5
   noun

   Speed, energy, vigor.

   to have a lot of toe

6. 6
   verb

   To touch, tap or kick with the toes.

   "Here's ten shillings for you, but I'm going to toe your backside first!" said Manna. And the Dane let him kick away; his yellow teeth gleamed in a servile grin and then he clutched at the money.

7. 7
   verb

   To touch or reach with the toes; to come fully up to.

   to toe the mark

8. 8
   verb

   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.

Etymology

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