Heel
WordNet
noun
(1) The bottom of a shoe or boot; the back part of a shoe or boot that touches the ground and provides elevation
(2) (golf) the part of the clubhead where it joins the shaft
(3) The lower end of a ship's mast
(4) The back part of the human foot
(5) One of the crusty ends of a loaf of bread
(6) Someone who is morally reprehensible
"You dirty dog"
verb
(7) Put a new heel on
"Heel shoes"
(8) Strike with the heel of the club
"Heel a golf ball"
(9) Perform with the heels
"Heel that dance"
(10) Follow at the heels of a person
(11) Tilt to one side
"The balloon heeled over"
"The wind made the vessel heel"
"The ship listed to starboard"
WiktionaryText
Etymology 1
hela, from Proto-Germanic *hāhil. Cognate with Dutch hiel, Swedish häl, Icelandic hæll. Compare hock.
Noun
- Part of the foot on the backside where it becomes the leg.
- The part of a shoe's sole which supports the foot's heel.
- On a long firearm, the back upper part of the stock.
- The last or lowest part of anything; as, the heel of a mast or the heel of a vessel.
- A crust end-piece of a loaf of bread.
- A contemptible, inconsiderate or thoughtless person.
- The tilt of a ship to one side; also, angle of heel, the degree of such a tilt.
Related terms
- heels
- heelside
- high-heels
- Tar Heel
- stiletto heel
- spike heel
Etymology 2
From Old English , cognate with Old Norse ( > Danish and Norwegian ).