toe

toe
{{11}}toe (n.) O.E. ta (pl. tan), contraction of *tahe (Mercian tahæ), from P.Gmc. *taikhwo (Cf. O.N. ta, O.Fris. tane, M.Du. te, Du. teen, O.H.G. zecha, Ger. Zehe "toe"), probably originally meaning "fingers" as well (many PIE languages still use one word to mean both fingers and toes). The Old English plural tan survived in southwestern England to 14c. To be on (one's) toes "alert, eager" is recorded from 1921.
{{12}}toe (v.) "touch or reach with the toes," 1813, from TOE (Cf. toe) (n.). First recorded in expression toe the mark, which seems to be nautical in origin.
The chief mate ... marked a line on the deck, brought the two boys up to it, making them 'toe the mark.' [R.H. Dana, "Two Years Before the Mast," 1840]
Related: Toed; toeing.

Etymology dictionary. 2014.

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  • Toe — Toe, n. [OE. too, taa, AS. t[=a]; akin to D. teen, G. zehe, OHG. z[=e]ha, Icel. t[=a], Sw. t[*a], Dan. taa; of uncertain origin. [root]60.] 1. (Anat.) One of the terminal members, or digits, of the foot of a man or an animal. Each one, tripping… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • toe — [tō] n. [ME to < OE ta, earlier tahe, akin to Ger zehe < IE base * deik̑ , to show > TEACH, L dicere, to say, digitus] 1. a) any of the five jointed parts at the front of the human foot; digit b) the forepart of the human foot c) the… …   English World dictionary

  • Toe — Toe, v. i. To hold or carry the toes (in a certain way). [1913 Webster] {To toe in}, to stand or carry the feet in such a way that the toes of either foot incline toward the other. {To toe out}, to have the toes of each foot, in standing or… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Toe — Toe, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Toed}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Toeing}.] To touch or reach with the toes; to come fully up to; as, to toe the mark. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • toe — UK US /təʊ/ verb [T] ● toe the line Cf. toe the line …   Financial and business terms

  • toe — ► NOUN 1) any of the five digits at the end of the foot. 2) the lower end, tip, or point of something. ► VERB (toes, toed, toeing) ▪ push, touch, or kick with one s toes. ● make someone s toes curl …   English terms dictionary

  • toe-in — toe′ in n. aum the slight forward convergence given to the front wheels of an automobile to improve steering qualities • Etymology: 1925–30 …   From formal English to slang

  • toe-in — [tō′in΄] n. nearly parallel alignment of the front wheels of a motor vehicle such that the front edges are slightly closer together and so provide necessary tension on the steering linkage …   English World dictionary

  • Toe — This article is about the body part. For other uses, see Toe (disambiguation). Ring toe redirects here. For the ring designed to be worn on a toe, see Toe ring. Toes Toes on the foot. The innermost toe (bottom left in image), which is normally… …   Wikipedia

  • toe — /toʊ / (say toh) noun 1. (in humans) one of the terminal members or digits of the foot. 2. an analogous part in other animals. 3. the forepart of the foot or hoof of a horse or the like. 4. a part, as of a stocking or shoe, to cover the toes. 5.… …  

  • toe — noun ADJECTIVE ▪ big ▪ The shoe pressed painfully against her big toe. ▪ little, pinky (AmE) ▪ bare ▪ Under his bare toes the …   Collocations dictionary

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