heel

heel
{{11}}heel (n.1) "back of the foot," O.E. hela, from P.Gmc. *hanhilon (Cf. O.N. hæll, O.Fris. hel, Du. hiel), from PIE *kenk- "heel, bend of the knee" (Cf. O.E. hoh "hock"). Meaning "back of a shoe or boot" is c.1400. Down at heels (1732) refers to heels of boots or shoes worn down and the owner too poor to replace them. For Achilles' heel "only vulnerable spot" see ACHILLES (Cf. Achilles). To "fight with (one's) heels" (fighten with heles) in M.E. meant "to run away."
{{12}}heel (n.2) "contemptible person," 1914 in U.S. underworld slang, originally "incompetent or worthless criminal," perhaps from a sense of "person in the lowest position" and thus from HEEL (Cf. heel) (n.1).
{{12}}heel (v.1) of a dog, "to follow or stop at a person's heels," 1810, from HEEL (Cf. heel) (n.1). Also Cf. HEELED (Cf. heeled).
{{13}}heel (v.2) "to lean to one side," in reference to a ship, O.E. hieldan "incline, lean, slope," from P.Gmc. *helthijanan (Cf. M.Du. helden "to lean," Du. hellen, O.N. hallr "inclined," O.H.G. halda, Ger. halde "slope, declivity"). Re-spelled 16c. from M.E. hield, probably by misinterpretation of -d as a past tense suffix.

Etymology dictionary. 2014.

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  • 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… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • heel — heel1 [hēl] n. [ME hele < OE hela, akin to Du hiel < Gmc * hanhila < * hanha < IE base * kenk , leg joint, heel] 1. the back part of the human foot, under the ankle and behind the instep: see CALCANEUS 2. the corresponding part of the …   English World dictionary

  • Heel — ist der Name folgender Personen: Johann Heel (1685 1749), deutscher Maler, Halbbruder des Bildhauers Peter Heel Johann Wilhelm Heel (1637 1709), deutscher Goldschmied, Erzgießer, Kupferstecher und Maler aus Nürnberg Magnus Heel (1654 1711),… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • heel — Ⅰ. heel [1] ► NOUN 1) the back part of the foot below the ankle. 2) the part of a shoe or boot supporting the heel. 3) the part of the palm of the hand next to the wrist. 4) informal, dated a contemptible person. ► EXCLAMATION ▪ …   English terms 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.] [1913 Webster] I cannot sing, Nor heel the high lavolt. Shak. [1913 Webster] 2. To add a heel to; as …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • heel|er — heel|er1 «HEE luhr», noun. 1. a person who puts heels on shoes. 2. U.S. Informal. a follower or hanger on of a political boss: »a ward heeler. 3. a person who follows at the heels. heel|er 2 «HEEL uhr», noun. 1. a lurch to one side. 2. a boat… …   Useful english dictionary

  • 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… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • heel — heel1 [hi:l] n ↑heel, ↑upper, ↑toe, ↑lace, ↑lining, ↑sole ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ 1¦(of your foot)¦ 2¦(of a shoe)¦ 3¦(of a sock)¦ 4¦(of your hand)¦ 5 heels 6 at …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • heel — 1 noun (C) 1 OF YOUR FOOT the back part of your foot body, foot 1 2 OF A SHOE the raised part of a shoe that is under the back of your foot 3 high heeled/low heeled etc high heeled or low heeled shoes have high or low heels 4 OF A SOCK the part… …   Longman dictionary of contemporary English

  • heel — heel1 heelless, adj. /heel/, n. 1. the back part of the human foot, below and behind the ankle. 2. an analogous part in other vertebrates. 3. either hind foot or hoof of some animals, as the horse. 4. the foot as a whole: He was hung by the heels …   Universalium

  • heel — I. /hil / (say heel) noun 1. (in humans) the back part of the foot, below and behind the ankle. 2. an analogous part in other vertebrates. 3. either hind foot or hoof of some animals, as the horse. 4. the part of a stocking, shoe, or the like,… …  

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