thumb English · revision 10472

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=inherited|attested=before 700|origins=gem-pro *þūmô|origins=ine-pro *tewh₂-}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈθʌm/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is Middle English thoume, [[inh|ang|þūma|t=thumb]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986) from Proto-Germanic *thūman-, etymologically the stout or thick finger,^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) source also of Dutch duim and German [[m|de|Daumen]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) from PIE *tum-, to swell,^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986) as in Latin tumēre, to swell (see [[tumor]]).^(Barnhart 1988)^(Cresswell 2021)^(MWU 2024) The unetymological -b, attested from the late 12th century, is perhaps by influence of [[dumb]] (compare [[limb]]).^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The short thick inner digit of the hand: before 700 in the OED, before 800 in Barnhart.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ In Middle English it could also mean the big toe.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) Figuratively, a thumb of a certain kind, as a gold thumb for one who grows rich, showed a natural skill, from the late 14th century.^(Etymonline) ''Thimble'' is formed from thumb.^(Cresswell 2021) ''Rule of thumb'' is attested by the 1680s.^(Etymonline) ''Thumbs up'' and ''thumbs down'' are said to go back to Roman gladiatorial combat, though Word Origins notes the Roman gestures were the reverse of the modern ones, which date from the early 20th century.^(Cresswell 2021) The verb, to play an instrument with the thumbs, is from 1593,^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989) to soil by much handling from the 1640s,^(Etymonline) to go through printed matter from 1930,^(Etymonline) and to hitchhike from 1939.^(Etymonline) ''To thumb one's nose'' is from 1903.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * before 700 – the thumb.^(OED 1989)

+ * late 14th century – a skill (figurative).^(Etymonline)

+ * 1593 – to play with the thumbs.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1680s – rule of thumb.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1903 – thumb one's nose.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1939 – to hitchhike.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # The short, thick first digit of the hand, opposable to the fingers.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # The corresponding digit in other animals.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # The part of a glove that covers the thumb.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # To turn the pages of a book quickly with the thumb.^(AHD)

+ # To soil or wear by much handling.^(AHD)

+ # To ask for a lift by signalling with the thumb; to [[hitchhike]].^(AHD)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[thumbless]]

+ * [[thumblike]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[thimble]]

+ * [[tumor]]

+ * [[tumid]]

+ * [[tuber]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}