thumb

thumb
{{11}}thumb (n.) O.E. þuma, from W.Gmc. *thumon- (Cf. O.Fris. thuma, O.S., O.H.G. thumo, Ger. Daumen, Du. duim "thumb," O.N. þumall "thumb of a glove"), lit. "the stout or thick (finger)," from PIE *tum- "swell" (Cf. L. tumere "to swell," tumidus "swollen;" Avestan tuma "fat;" see THIGH (Cf. thigh)). For spelling with -b (attested from late 13c.), see LIMB (Cf. limb).
To be under (someone's) thumb "be totally controlled by that person" is recorded from 1580s. Thumbs up (1887) and thumbs down (1906) were said to be from expressions of approval or the opposite in ancient amphitheaters, especially gladiator shows, where the gesture decided whether a defeated combatant was spared or slain. But the Roman gesture was merely one of hiding the thumb in the hand or extending it. Perhaps the modern gesture is from the usual coachmen's way of greeting while the hands are occupied with the reins.
{{12}}thumb (v.) "to go through" (especially of printed material), 1930, from THUMB (Cf. thumb) (n.), though the related sense of "soil or wear by handling" dates from 1640s. Meaning "to hitchhike" is 1939; originally the thumb pointed in the direction one wished to travel. Related: Thumbed; thumbing. To thumb (one's) nose as an expression of derision is recorded from 1903.

Etymology dictionary. 2014.

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  • Thumb — Thumb, n. [OE. thombe, thoumbe, [thorn]ume, AS. [thorn][=u]ma; akin to OFries. th[=u]ma, D. duim, G. daumen, OHG. d[=u]mo, Icel. [thorn]umall, Dan. tommelfinger, Sw. tumme, and perhaps to L. tumere to swell. [root]56. Cf. {Thimble}, {Tumid}.] The …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Thumb — bezeichnet: Thumb (Architektenfamilie), Vorarlberger Architektenfamilie des Barock Thumb (Band), Crossover Band Thumb von Neuburg, Adelsfamilie zur Zeit des Heiligen Römischen Reichs Thumbnail, Miniaturansicht eines Bildes einen Prozessor… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • thumb — [thum] n. [ME (with unhistoric b) < OE thuma, akin to Ger daume(n) < IE base * tēu , to swell, increase > L tumor: basic sense, “enlarged finger”] 1. the short, thick digit of the human hand that is nearest the wrist and is opposable to… …   English World dictionary

  • thumb — ► NOUN ▪ the short, thick first digit of the hand, set lower and apart from the other four and opposable to them. ► VERB 1) press, touch, or indicate with one s thumb. 2) turn over (pages) with one s thumb. 3) (thumbed) (of a book s pages) worn… …   English terms dictionary

  • Thumb — Thumb, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Thumbed}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Thumbing}.] 1. To handle awkwardly. Johnson. [1913 Webster] 2. To play with the thumbs, or with the thumbs and fingers; as, to thumb over a tune. [1913 Webster] 3. To soil or wear with the… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Thumb — Thumb  режим процессоров ARM, в котором используется сокращенная система команд. Она состоит из 36 команд, взятых из стандартного набора 32 разрядных команд архитектуры ARM и преобразованных до 16 разрядных кодов. Длина команд Thumb… …   Википедия

  • Thumb — Thumb, v. i. To play with the thumb or thumbs; to play clumsily; to thrum. [1913 Webster] [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • thumb — index peruse Burton s Legal Thesaurus. William C. Burton. 2006 …   Law dictionary

  • thumb — UK US /θʌm/ noun [C] ● get/be given the thumbs down Cf. get/be given the thumbs down ● get/be given the thumbs up Cf. get/be given the thumbs up …   Financial and business terms

  • Thumb — For other uses, see Thumb (disambiguation). Thumb The Thumb. Latin pollex, digitus primus, digitus I Artery …   Wikipedia

  • thumb — [[t]θʌ̱m[/t]] thumbs, thumbing, thumbed 1) N COUNT Your thumb is the short thick piece on the side of your hand next to your four fingers. She bit the tip of her left thumb, not looking at me. 2) N COUNT The thumb of a glove is the part which a… …   English dictionary

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