Dictionary

heel en · NOUN · etymology 1

Pronunciation

• /hiːl/ (UK)
• (US) audio
• /hil/ (US)

Etymology

From Middle English hele, from Old English hēla, from Proto-West Germanic *hą̄hilō, from Proto-Germanic *hanhilaz, diminutive of Proto-Germanic *hanhaz (“heel, hock”), equivalent to hock + -le. More at hock. Compare North Frisian haiel, West Frisian hyl, Dutch hiel, German Low German Hiel, Danish and Norwegian hæl, Swedish häl.

Meanings

1. The rear part of the foot, where it joins the leg.
   • He [the stag] calls to mind his strength and then his speed, / His winged heels and then his armed head. 1709, John Denham, Coopers-Hill:
2. The part of a shoe's sole which supports the foot's heel.
3. The rear part of a sock or similar covering for the foot.
4. The part of the palm of a hand closest to the wrist.
   • He drove the heel of his hand into the man's nose.
5. (plural-normally) A high-heeled shoe.
   • Oh mama, I'm just having fun On the stage in my heels It's where I belong down at the... 2020 April 3, Chappell Roan, Dan Nigro, “Pink Pony Club”performed by Chappell Roan:
   • She'd been wearing heels, and fell backward off her right heel and twisted or broke her ankle. 2008, Kwame Shauku, Wonderful Williams and the Magnificent Seven, page 257:
   • Flat shoes. As she pushed off her left heel and pressed the sole of her foot to the cold floor she looked forward to them. 2015, Alex Blackmore, Killing Eva:
   • Opting to improve her odds of making it up the stairs and into the privacy of her room, she kicked off her left heel, and then her right before leaning down to scoop them up. 2011, Candace Irvine, A Dangerous Engagement:
6. The back, upper part of the stock.
7. The thickening of the neck of a stringed instrument where it attaches to the body.
8. The last or lowest part of anything.
   • the heel of a vessel
   • the heel of a mast
   • And then again the sportsmen would move at an undertaker's pace, when the fox had traversed and the hounds would be at a loss to know which was the hunt and which was the heel 1860, Anthony Trollope, Framley Parsonage:
9. (Australia, Ireland, Scotland, US) A crust end-piece of a loaf of bread.
   • the heel of the white loaf 1814 July 7, [Walter Scott], Waverley; or, ’Tis Sixty Years Since. […], volume (please specify |volume=I to III), Edinburgh: […] James Ballantyne and Co. for Archibald Constable and Co.; London: Longman, Hurst, Rees, Orme, and Brown, →OCLC:
   • `Have ye seen,' said Uncle Jobson with basilisk severity, `what's become of the heel of to-day's loaf?' 1930, Norman Lindsay, Redheap, Sydney, N.S.W.: Ure Smith, →OCLC, page 42:
   • Boiled mutton was in one, and the heel of a damper in another. 1902, Barbara Baynton, edited by Sally Krimmer and Alan Lawson, Bush Studies (Portable Australian Authors: Barbara Baynton), St Lucia: University of Queensland Press, published 1980, page 32:
10. (US) The base of a bun sliced in half lengthwise.
    • The bottom half, or the bun heel is placed in the carton, and the pickle slices spread evenly over the meat or cheese. 1996, Ester Reiter, Making Fast Food: From the Frying Pan Into the Fryer, page 100:
11. (informal) A contemptible, unscrupulous, inconsiderate, or thoughtless person.
    • She should be glad to have him on her side. So why did Godshawk's memories, grumbling again in that substrate of her brain, keep reminding her of heels he'd known, and tricksters? 2011, Philip Reeve, Scrivener's Moon, Scholastic, →ISBN, pages 361–362:
    • I grinned at him sneeringly. I was the heel to end all heels. Wait until the man is down, then kick him and kick him again. He's weak. He can't resist or kick back. 1953, Raymond Chandler, chapter 29, in The Long Goodbye:
    • Douglas steams and stammers, a typical film noir heel, while Stone delivers her dialogue with the devilish gleam of a sly actor having a great time. 2022 March 20, Jason Bailey, “‘Basic Instinct’ at 30: A Time Capsule That Can Still Offend”, in The New York Times, →ISSN:
12. (broadly, slang) A headlining wrestler regarded as a "bad guy," whose ring persona embodies villainous or reprehensible traits and demonstrates characteristics of a braggart and a bully.
    • Freedman began his analysis by noting two important facts about professional wrestling: First, that heels triumph considerably more often than do babyfaces[…] 1992, Bruce Lincoln, Discourse and the Construction of Society, page 158:
13. The cards set aside for later use in a patience or solitaire game.
14. Anything resembling a human heel in shape; a protuberance; a knob.
15. The lower end of a timber in a frame, as a post or rafter.
16. (US, specifically) The obtuse angle of the lower end of a rafter set sloping.
17. (obsolete) A cyma reversa.
    • Talon: Heel moulding or ogee 1891, Vignola, Practical Elementary Treatise on Architecture, page ii:
    • There are two kinds—the upright ogee, in which the concave part projects most, and the heel or inverted ogee, which has the convexity most prominent. This last, with its fillet above, is always the upper moulding of a classical cornice. 1846, George William Francis, The Dictionary of the Arts, Sciences, and Manufactures:
    • Of these there are two Kinds; in the one, that Part which has the greatest Projecture is Concave, and is term'd Doucine, or an Upright Ogee; in the other, the Convex Part has the greatest Projecture; and this is call'd the Heel, or Inverted Ogee. 1722, Claude Perrault, A Treatise of the Five Orders in Architecture, page vii:
18. The short side of an angled cut.
19. The part of a club head's face nearest the shaft.
20. The lower end of the bit (cutting edge) of an axehead, as opposed to the toe (upper end).
21. The part of a carding machine's flat nearest the cylinder.
22. The junction between the keel and the stempost of a vessel; an angular wooden join connecting the two.
23. Material stored in a smelting furnace between batches

Forms

Antonyms

babyface (antonym(s) of “headlining wrestler”) · toe (antonym(s) of “angled cut in carpentry”)

Deriveds

cowheel · heel bone · heeler · couldn't pour water out of a boot with the instructions on the heel · wedge heel · heelstrike · snap at someone's heels · heel-and-toe · French heel · heel flip · parliamentary heel · down-at-the-heel · take to one's heels · free-heel skiing · iron heel · rubber heels · toe-and-heel · upon the heels of · heelful · at someone's heels · down in the heels · heelpath · heelside · heelpiece · heelwork · heel stick · wire-heel · down at the heel · Cuban heel · kitten heel · high heels · his heels · Parliamentary heel · down at heel · spike heel · heelies · out at the heels · heel strike · heel bar · Tar Heel · heel pad syndrome · heelproof · shitheel · shit-heel · kick up one's heels · bootheel · cool one's heels · down in the heel · heelless · turn on one's heel · bring someone to heel · heel-face turn · shit heel · heel-palm · skyscraper heel · heel-dragger · down at the heels · high-heel · lay by the heels · show a clean pair of heels · bring to heel · heelball · neck and heels · heel hook · out at heels · to heel · dig in one's heels · heel lift · reheel · heelish · heelbone · headless over heels · heel turn · hot on someone's heels · hot on somebody's heels · backheel · bread heel · Achilles' heel · down-at-the-heels · head over heels · roundheels · Louis heel · stiletto heel · heelplate · kick one's heels · midheel · heeltap · heelflip · sit back on one's heels · Achilles heel · stripper heel · heel palm · back-heel · heel over · down-at-heel · heelprint · high heel · pencil heel · lark's-heel · heelie · heelpost · heel ring · larkheel · well-heeled

Synonyms

butt · crust (end of bread) · boot (end of bread) · boot · butt (end of bread) · outsider (end of bread) · knob-end (end of bread) · ender (end of bread)

Translations (370)

de Schurke (contemptible, inconsiderate or thoughtless person) · es taco (part of shoe) · sv klack (part of shoe) · sw kisigino (anatomy: part of the foot) · ca taló (part of shoe) · bcl buol (anatomy: part of the foot) · mk потпетица (part of shoe) · fi kantapää (anatomy: part of the foot) · lus keartui (anatomy: part of the foot) · taa -katwtl (anatomy: part of the foot) · nl kapje (end-piece of a loaf of bread — see also butt, breadcrust, stale) · sq thundër (anatomy: part of the foot) · mt takkuna (part of shoe) · de Ferse (anatomy: part of the foot) · scn carcagnu (anatomy: part of the foot) · kk өкше (anatomy: part of the foot) · bg пета (last or lowest part of anything) · xdq кьвяш (anatomy: part of the foot) · si අඩිය (anatomy: part of the foot) · pam sakung (anatomy: part of the foot) · mn талхны зах (end-piece of a loaf of bread — see also butt, breadcrust, stale) · ota اوكچه (anatomy: part of the foot) · xcl կրուկն (anatomy: part of the foot) · ia talon (anatomy: part of the foot) · my ရှူးဖိနပ်တို့၏ခွာ (part of shoe) · az daban (part of shoe) · es carcañal (anatomy: part of the foot) · es cantero (end-piece of a loaf of bread — see also butt, breadcrust, stale) · fi kanta (anatomy: part of the foot) · fr croûton (end-piece of a loaf of bread — see also butt, breadcrust, stale) · fo skálkur (end-piece of a loaf of bread — see also butt, breadcrust, stale) · kaa o'kshe (part of shoe) · el τακούνι (part of shoe) · mt għarqbejn (anatomy: part of the foot) · he עָקֵב (anatomy: part of the foot) · dtr gontod (anatomy: part of the foot) · ar عَقِب (anatomy: part of the foot) · kea kalkanhar (anatomy: part of the foot) · vec taco (part of shoe) · fi kantapala (end-piece of a loaf of bread — see also butt, breadcrust, stale) · pl pięta (anatomy: part of the foot) · nl kontje (end-piece of a loaf of bread — see also butt, breadcrust, stale) · nn hæl (anatomy: part of the foot) · de Anschnitt (end-piece of a loaf of bread — see also butt, breadcrust, stale) · hy կրունկ (part of shoe) · fi pohja (last or lowest part of anything) · cs patka (end-piece of a loaf of bread — see also butt, breadcrust, stale) · sv häl (anatomy: part of the foot) · wym faoś (anatomy: part of the foot) · es calcañar (anatomy: part of the foot) · ar كَعْب (anatomy: part of the foot) · kk өкше (part of shoe) · ml ഉപ്പുകുറ്റി (anatomy: part of the foot) · ru пята́ (anatomy: part of the foot) · pl obcas (part of shoe) · az daban (anatomy: part of the foot) · de Knust (end-piece of a loaf of bread — see also butt, breadcrust, stale) · ang fiersn (anatomy: part of the foot) · uk п'ята́ (anatomy: part of the foot) · kqr tontod (anatomy: part of the foot) · dtr atad (anatomy: part of the foot) · rm chalchagn (anatomy: part of the foot) · hy կրունկ (anatomy: part of the foot) · de Ranft (end-piece of a loaf of bread — see also butt, breadcrust, stale) · ja ヒール (part of shoe) · kld dhanga (anatomy: part of the foot) · xal давхрг (part of shoe) · it tacco (part of shoe) · lb Feescht (anatomy: part of the foot) · ltg papīds (anatomy: part of the foot) · be пя́тка (anatomy: part of the foot) · it calcagno (anatomy: part of the foot) · la fulmenta (part of shoe) · hi एड़ी (part of shoe) · es carcaño (anatomy: part of the foot) · mel tug (anatomy: part of the foot) · ko 굽 (part of shoe) · de Absatz (part of shoe) · uk п'ята́ (rear part of a sock) · nrf talon (part of shoe) · ko 발뒤축 (anatomy: part of the foot) · mhr таган (anatomy: part of the foot) · fi perä (last or lowest part of anything) · fy hakke (part of shoe) · tl sakong ng medyas (part of shoe) · slr ayaq ardı (anatomy: part of the foot) · hu magassarkú cipő (woman's high-heeled shoe) · fr talon (anatomy: part of the foot) · pdt Hak (anatomy: part of the foot) · th ส้น (anatomy: part of the foot) · da hæl (anatomy: part of the foot) · nds Kanten (end-piece of a loaf of bread — see also butt, breadcrust, stale) · la calx (anatomy: part of the foot) · cv кӗле (anatomy: part of the foot) · no skalk (end-piece of a loaf of bread — see also butt, breadcrust, stale) · de Ferse (rear part of a sock) · es calcaño (anatomy: part of the foot) · slr ayaq soñı (anatomy: part of the foot) · pt tampa (end-piece of a loaf of bread — see also butt, breadcrust, stale) · uk каблу́к (part of shoe) · lb Tallek (part of shoe) · tpn pytá (anatomy: part of the foot) · gv saayl (anatomy: part of the foot) · frr haiel (anatomy: part of the foot) · ttj ekikongoijo class 7 (anatomy: part of the foot) · ota اوكچه (rear part of a sock) · cy sawdl (anatomy: part of the foot) · zh 鞋跟 (part of shoe) · zh 高跟鞋 (woman's high-heeled shoe) · tl sakong (anatomy: part of the foot) · fi kanta (anything regarded as like a human heel in shape) · es talón (anatomy: part of the foot) · ur ایڑ (anatomy: part of the foot) · es cuscurro (end-piece of a loaf of bread — see also butt, breadcrust, stale) · gd sàil (part of shoe) · ja 踵 (part of shoe) · sib tumit (anatomy: part of the foot) · hu sarok (rear part of a sock) · sv häl (part of shoe) · ko 발뒤꿈치 (anatomy: part of the foot) · sip ཏིང་པོ (anatomy: part of the foot) · la tālus (anatomy: part of the foot) · sh пета (part of shoe) · ota زوانه (architecture: lower end of a timber in a frame) · fa پاشنه (anatomy: part of the foot) · sh пета (anatomy: part of the foot) · fi korkeakorkoinen kenkä (woman's high-heeled shoe) · bg ток (part of shoe) · de Schuft (contemptible, inconsiderate or thoughtless person) · vi gót (anatomy: part of the foot) · rm chaltgogn (anatomy: part of the foot) · fi alapuoli (base of a bun) · yo èyìnjìjà (anatomy: part of the foot) · ill palu (anatomy: part of the foot) · kk тақа (anatomy: part of the foot) · nn hæl (part of shoe) · jje 발치기 (anatomy: part of the foot) · eu orpo (anatomy: part of the foot) · fi korkokenkä (woman's high-heeled shoe) · dtp gontod (Tambunan Dusun) (anatomy: part of the foot) · pt calcanhar (anatomy: part of the foot) · nv kétal (part of shoe) · bg краешник (end-piece of a loaf of bread — see also butt, breadcrust, stale) · es calcañal (anatomy: part of the foot) · ln etindi (anatomy: part of the foot) · ruq călcǫn' (anatomy: part of the foot) · bg крайче (end-piece of a loaf of bread — see also butt, breadcrust, stale) · ceb tikod (anatomy: part of the foot) · bdr buli' betis (anatomy: part of the foot) · ba үксә (anatomy: part of the foot) · tk topuk (anatomy: part of the foot) · nl hiel (anatomy: part of the foot) · uk окра́єць (end-piece of a loaf of bread — see also butt, breadcrust, stale) · oc caucanh (anatomy: part of the foot) · es tacón (part of shoe) · bg пета́ (anatomy: part of the foot) · vi gót chân (anatomy: part of the foot) · cs podpatek (part of shoe) · it poggiaguancia (firearms: back upper part of the stock) · sq takë (part of shoe) · hi एड़ी (anatomy: part of the foot) · enm hele (anatomy: part of the foot) · el φτέρνα (anatomy: part of the foot) · pt salto (part of shoe) · ca crostó (end-piece of a loaf of bread — see also butt, breadcrust, stale) · tg пошна (anatomy: part of the foot) · ru горбу́шка (end-piece of a loaf of bread — see also butt, breadcrust, stale) · mt għarqub (anatomy: part of the foot) · nrf talon (anatomy: part of the foot) · lo ສົ້ນ (part of shoe) · uz tovon (anatomy: part of the foot) · zh 後跟 /后跟 (anatomy: part of the foot) · sq thembër (anatomy: part of the foot) · hu sarok (part of shoe) · sa पार्ष्णि (anatomy: part of the foot) · fi pakka (card games: cards set aside for later use) · kw seudhel (anatomy: part of the foot) · bg пета (rear part of a sock) · ota طوپوق (anatomy: part of the foot) · ota عقب (anatomy: part of the foot) · ca taló (anatomy: part of the foot) · sh peta (part of shoe) · se šušmi (anatomy: part of the foot) · as গেৰোৱা (anatomy: part of the foot) · tr topuk (anatomy: part of the foot) · fi kanta (last or lowest part of anything) · mt għerieqeb (anatomy: part of the foot) · grc πτέρνα (anatomy: part of the foot) · te మడమ (anatomy: part of the foot) · pl piętka (end-piece of a loaf of bread — see also butt, breadcrust, stale) · cop ϧⲁ (anatomy: part of the foot) · sc cracanzu (anatomy: part of the foot) · it tallone (anatomy: part of the foot) · ga sáil (anatomy: part of the foot) · drg totod (anatomy: part of the foot) · he נְשִׁיקָה (end-piece of a loaf of bread — see also butt, breadcrust, stale) · ru пя́тка (anatomy: part of the foot) · fo hælur (part of shoe) · rm calcogn (anatomy: part of the foot) · lo ສົ້ນ (anatomy: part of the foot) · kw gwewen (part of shoe) · fi korko (part of shoe) · gd sàil (anatomy: part of the foot) · xcl կրուկ (anatomy: part of the foot) · vo jukahilot (part of shoe) · fr quignon (end-piece of a loaf of bread — see also butt, breadcrust, stale) · fi korkkari (woman's high-heeled shoe) · is hæll (part of shoe) · sw kisigino (firearms: back upper part of the stock) · chr ᎦᏗᎨᏂ (anatomy: part of the foot) · vo hil (anatomy: part of the foot) · uk підні́жжя (last or lowest part of anything) · sl peta (anatomy: part of the foot) · hsb krjeńčka (end-piece of a loaf of bread — see also butt, breadcrust, stale) · cu пѧта (anatomy: part of the foot) · uk п'я́тка (anatomy: part of the foot) · km ចង្កោយ (anatomy: part of the foot) · cy sawdl (part of shoe) · ro călcâi (anatomy: part of the foot) · lv dona (end-piece of a loaf of bread — see also butt, breadcrust, stale) · tt үкчә (anatomy: part of the foot) · ka ქუსლი (anatomy: part of the foot) · hsb pjata (anatomy: part of the foot) · vo hilot (part of shoe) · ia calce (anatomy: part of the foot) · rup cãlcãnj (anatomy: part of the foot) · kw seudhel (part of shoe) · nds Knuust (end-piece of a loaf of bread — see also butt, breadcrust, stale) · mk пе́та (anatomy: part of the foot) · ttj ekisinziro class 7 (anatomy: part of the foot) · de Kanten (end-piece of a loaf of bread — see also butt, breadcrust, stale) · es currusco (end-piece of a loaf of bread — see also butt, breadcrust, stale) · tk ökje (anatomy: part of the foot) · ne कुर्कुच्चा (anatomy: part of the foot) · de Schuhabsatz (part of shoe) · mk пе́тица (anatomy: part of the foot) · et kand (anatomy: part of the foot) · lv papēdis (anatomy: part of the foot) · zu isithende (anatomy: part of the foot) · aln themer (anatomy: part of the foot) · jje 굽 (part of shoe) · fi kannikka (end-piece of a loaf of bread — see also butt, breadcrust, stale) · aht -ketatlʼ (anatomy: part of the foot) · vi gót giày (part of shoe) · lb Tallong (part of shoe) · sc cracàngiu (anatomy: part of the foot) · ee afɔkpodzi (anatomy: part of the foot) · ja ヒール (anatomy: part of the foot) · dsb pěta (anatomy: part of the foot) · yi פּיאַטע (anatomy: part of the foot) · alt энчек (anatomy: part of the foot) · lt kulnas (anatomy: part of the foot) · fi kanta (part of shoe) · dsb kšomicka (end-piece of a loaf of bread — see also butt, breadcrust, stale) · mww luj taws (anatomy: part of the foot) · fy hakke (anatomy: part of the foot) · mk крајче (end-piece of a loaf of bread — see also butt, breadcrust, stale) · ja 踵 (anatomy: part of the foot) · de Aaschnitt (end-piece of a loaf of bread — see also butt, breadcrust, stale) · uk підбо́р (part of shoe) · es pie (last or lowest part of anything) · fi kantapää (rear part of a sock) · my ခြေဖနောင့် (anatomy: part of the foot) · ru каблу́к (part of shoe) · lus keartui (part of shoe) · hsb chlěbušk (end-piece of a loaf of bread — see also butt, breadcrust, stale) · bej tiikás (anatomy: part of the foot) · hy գարշապար (anatomy: part of the foot) · sk päta (anatomy: part of the foot) · kw gwewen (anatomy: part of the foot) · sc calcanzu (anatomy: part of the foot) · de Scherzl (end-piece of a loaf of bread — see also butt, breadcrust, stale) · rif nirz (anatomy: part of the foot) · fi kanta (golf: part of the face of the club head nearest the shaft) · atv энджек (anatomy: part of the foot) · it cantuccio (end-piece of a loaf of bread — see also butt, breadcrust, stale) · gl talón (anatomy: part of the foot) · hu sercli (end-piece of a loaf of bread — see also butt, breadcrust, stale) · sne tiga (anatomy: part of the foot) · af hiel (anatomy: part of the foot) · et konts (part of shoe) · is hæll (anatomy: part of the foot) · nb hæl (anatomy: part of the foot) · fi kanta (end-piece of a loaf of bread — see also butt, breadcrust, stale) · ur ایڑی (anatomy: part of the foot) · sma båetskie (anatomy: part of the foot) · fa پاشنه کفش (part of shoe) · ms tumit (anatomy: part of the foot) · bg пета (architecture: lower end of a timber in a frame) · sga sál (anatomy: part of the foot) · eo kalkano (anatomy: part of the foot) · oc calcanh (anatomy: part of the foot) · pt tacão (part of shoe) · gug pyta (anatomy: part of the foot) · za giujdin (anatomy: part of the foot) · bsy tunob (anatomy: part of the foot) · rup cãlcãnju (anatomy: part of the foot) · cs pata (anatomy: part of the foot) · yo gìgísẹ̀ (anatomy: part of the foot) · th ส้นเท้า (anatomy: part of the foot) · nl korst (end-piece of a loaf of bread — see also butt, breadcrust, stale) · ar كَعْب (part of shoe) · sc carcàngiu (anatomy: part of the foot) · izh kanta (anatomy: part of the foot) · hu gyürke (end-piece of a loaf of bread — see also butt, breadcrust, stale) · fo hælur (anatomy: part of the foot) · az ökcə (part of shoe) · oc talon (anatomy: part of the foot) · bni etindi (anatomy: part of the foot) · hi एड़ (anatomy: part of the foot) · izh kablukka (part of shoe) · pa ਅੱਡੀ (anatomy: part of the foot) · hu sarok (anatomy: part of the foot) · fr talon (part of shoe) · grc πτέρνη (anatomy: part of the foot) · zh 腳跟 /脚跟 (anatomy: part of the foot) · ba үксә (part of shoe) · mn өсгий (anatomy: part of the foot) · scn calcagnu (anatomy: part of the foot) · enm hough (anatomy: part of the foot) · id tumit (anatomy: part of the foot) · tih tunob (anatomy: part of the foot) · sh потпетица (part of shoe) · mnc ᡤᡠᠶᡝ (anatomy: part of the foot) · be абца́с (part of shoe) · sv skalk (end-piece of a loaf of bread — see also butt, breadcrust, stale) · sh potpetica (part of shoe) · nl hak (part of shoe) · rm caltgogn (anatomy: part of the foot) · nds Hack (anatomy: part of the foot) · ta குதிக்கால் (anatomy: part of the foot) · nb hæl (part of shoe) · bh एड़ी (anatomy: part of the foot) · vec calcagno (anatomy: part of the foot) · cop ⲑⲓⲃⲥ (anatomy: part of the foot) · tru ܥܰܪܩܘܘܐ (anatomy: part of the foot) · sh peta (anatomy: part of the foot) · id tumit kaki (anatomy: part of the foot) · de Abschnitt (end-piece of a loaf of bread — see also butt, breadcrust, stale) · sw kisigino (part of shoe) · nl hak (anatomy: part of the foot) · ota اوكچه (part of shoe) · ky согончок (anatomy: part of the foot) · lad karkanyal (anatomy: part of the foot) · ro colț (end-piece of a loaf of bread — see also butt, breadcrust, stale) · rm chalcogn (anatomy: part of the foot) · ht talon (anatomy: part of the foot) · ps پونده (anatomy: part of the foot) · mvv tundov (anatomy: part of the foot) · nv akétal (anatomy: part of the foot) · es corrusco (end-piece of a loaf of bread — see also butt, breadcrust, stale) · bn এড়ি (anatomy: part of the foot) · km កែងស្បែកជើង (part of shoe) · fi törppö (contemptible, inconsiderate or thoughtless person) · dsb kšomica (end-piece of a loaf of bread — see also butt, breadcrust, stale) · es mendrugo (end-piece of a loaf of bread — see also butt, breadcrust, stale) · jv tungkak (anatomy: part of the foot) · da hæl (part of shoe) · alt чоҥчок (anatomy: part of the foot) · zh 跟 (part of shoe) · ast calcañu (anatomy: part of the foot) · mhr таган (part of shoe) · sw kisigino (end-piece of a loaf of bread — see also butt, breadcrust, stale) · kk табан (anatomy: part of the foot) · io talono (anatomy: part of the foot) · vi gót (part of shoe) · de Knapp (end-piece of a loaf of bread — see also butt, breadcrust, stale) · svs bou (anatomy: part of the foot) · fur calcagn (anatomy: part of the foot) · ar كعب (anatomy: part of the foot)

heel en · VERB · etymology 1

Pronunciation

• /hiːl/ (UK)
• (US) audio
• /hil/ (US)

Etymology

From Middle English hele, from Old English hēla, from Proto-West Germanic *hą̄hilō, from Proto-Germanic *hanhilaz, diminutive of Proto-Germanic *hanhaz (“heel, hock”), equivalent to hock + -le. More at hock. Compare North Frisian haiel, West Frisian hyl, Dutch hiel, German Low German Hiel, Danish and Norwegian hæl, Swedish häl.

Meanings

1. To follow at somebody's heels; to chase closely.
   • She called to her dog to heel.
2. To cause to follow at somebody’s heels (transitive).
3. To add a heel to, or increase the size of the heel of (a shoe or boot).
   • So I laid down my knittin', an' got up, an' stole ovir to the banes, an' nivir believe me iv I didn't see, sittin' right forenint me, in the very middle of thim, a bit of an ould man, not a quarther so big as a new-born child, wid a little cocked hat an his head, an' a dudeen in his mouth, smokin' away; an' a plain, ould-fashioned, dhrab-coloured coat, wid big brass buttons upon it, an his back, an' a pair o' massy silver buckles in his shoes, that a'most covered his feet they war so big, an' he workin' away as hard as ivir he could, heelin' a little pair o' pumps. 1850, Thomas Keightley, The Fairy Mythology, London: H.G. Bohn, page 378:
4. To kick with the heel.
   • she heeled her horse forward
5. (transitive) To perform by the use of the heels, as in dancing, running, etc.
   • I cannot sing, Nor heel the high lavolt. c. 1602 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Troylus and Cressida”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act IV, scene iv], lines 85-86:
6. (transitive) To arm with a gaff, as a cock for fighting.
7. (transitive) To hit (the ball) with the heel of the club.
8. (transitive) To make (a fair catch) standing with one foot forward, the heel on the ground and the toe up.
9. (US, intransitive) At Yale University, to work as a heeler or student journalist.

Forms

Deriveds

heel out · heel up

Translations (18)

lus ûmzui (To follow at somebody's heels) · hu a sarkában van (valakinek) (To follow at somebody's heels) · es poner talón a (To follow at somebody's heels) · es seguir de cerca (To follow at somebody's heels) · oc talonar (To follow at somebody's heels) · lus zui (To follow at somebody's heels) · bg вървя по петите (To follow at somebody's heels) · lus ûm (To follow at somebody's heels) · de (jemandem) auf den Fersen sein (To follow at somebody's heels) · nl op de hielen zitten (To follow at somebody's heels) · sw kisigino (To follow at somebody's heels) · fi olla kannoilla (To follow at somebody's heels) · fi olla kintereillä (To follow at somebody's heels) · lus hnung zui (To follow at somebody's heels) · mk оди зад петици (To follow at somebody's heels) · es poner tacón a (To follow at somebody's heels) · fr talonner (To follow at somebody's heels) · ca estalonar (To follow at somebody's heels)

heel en · NOUN · etymology 2

Pronunciation

• /hiːl/ (UK)
• (US) audio
• /hil/ (US)

Etymology

Probably inferred from hielded, the past tense of hield, from Middle English helden, heelden, from Old English hyldan, hieldan (“to incline”), cognate with Old Norse hella (“to pour out”) (whence Danish hælde (“lean, pour”)).

Meanings

1. The act of inclining or canting from a vertical position; a cant.
   • [T]he boat, from a sudden gust of wind, taking a deep heel, I tumbled overboard and down I went […] . 1808–10, William Hickey, Memoirs of a Georgian Rake, Folio Society 1995, p. 14

Forms

Synonyms

heeling

heel en · VERB · etymology 2

Pronunciation

• /hiːl/ (UK)
• (US) audio
• /hil/ (US)

Etymology

Probably inferred from hielded, the past tense of hield, from Middle English helden, heelden, from Old English hyldan, hieldan (“to incline”), cognate with Old Norse hella (“to pour out”) (whence Danish hælde (“lean, pour”)).

Meanings

1. To incline to one side; to tilt.
   • The faster a ship sails, the better she will answer her helm; if she sail very slow, she will scarce steer at all. If she heel much, she won't answer the helm so well. 1764, John Nourse, Navigation Or, the Art of Sailing Upon the Sea, page 65:

Forms

Relateds

limit of positive stability · angle of vanishing stability

Translations (8)

nb krenge (incline) · es escorar (incline) · nl hellen (incline) · nn krengja (incline) · de krängen (incline) · fi kallistua (incline) · bg накренявам (incline) · sv kränga (incline)

heel en · VERB · etymology 3

Pronunciation

• /hiːl/ (UK)
• (US) audio
• /hil/ (US)

Etymology

See hele (“conceal, keep secret, cover”).

Meanings

1. (alt-of, alternative, especially, in the phrase "heel in", rare) Alternative form of hele (“cover; conceal”).
   alt of hele
   • They should be dug up with a sharp mattock or grub hoe, the roots being broken as little as possible, and they should be heeled in a cool place and protected from the sun until ready to plant. When lifted for planting from the trench in which heeled the roots should be kept covered with a wet sack. 1911, Biennial Report of the State Geologist, North Carolina Geological Survey Section, page 92:
   • If trees are received from the nursery in the fall, they should be carefully heeled in until the planting season opens in the spring. 1937, Robert Wilson, Ernest John George, Planting and care of shelterbelts on the northern Great Plains, page 15:
   • [I] of my own free will and accord, do hereby, here at and hereon, solemnly swear that I will always heel, conceal and never improperly reveal any of the secrets or mysteries of, or belonging to [the Masons]. , Brian Kerr, Lodge St Lawrence 144 Ritual, page 34
   • Member: Did you water the trees when you set them out? Walter Vonnegut: No; I heeled the trees in as soon as they were received. 1916, Transactions of the Indiana Horticultural Society, page 111:
   • Place seedlings in the trench. Small-stemmed seedlings may be heeled-in in bunches of 25, but large seedlings should be heeled-in loose. 1976, Keith W. Dorman, The Genetics and Breeding of Southern Pines, page 66:
   • In the late fall the seedlings may be dug and heeled in very closely until all the leaves have dropped. 1913, Indian School Journal, page 142:

Forms