n. & v.
—n.
1 the back part of the foot below the ankle.
2 the corresponding part in vertebrate animals.
3 a the part of a sock etc. covering the heel. b the part of a shoe or boot supporting the heel.
4 a thing like a heel in form or position, e.g. the part of the palm next to the wrist, the end of a violin bow at which it is held, or the part of a golf club near where the head joins the shaft.
5 the crust end of a loaf of bread.
6 colloq. a person regarded with contempt or disapproval.
7 (as int.) a command to a dog to walk close to its owner's heel.
—v.
1 tr. fit or renew a heel on (a shoe or boot).
2 intr. touch the ground with the heel as in dancing.
3 intr. (foll. by out) Rugby Football pass the ball with the heel.
4 tr. Golf strike (the ball) with the heel of the club.
Phrases and idioms:
at heel
1 (of a dog) close behind.
2 (of a person etc.) under control. at (or on) the heels of following closely after (a person or event). cool (or kick) one's heels be kept waiting.
down at heel
1 (of a shoe) with the heel worn down.
2 (of a person) shabby. take to one's heels run away.
to heel
1 (of a dog) close behind.
2 (of a person etc.) under control. turn on one's heel turn sharply round. well-heeled colloq. wealthy.
Derivatives:
heelless adj.
Etymology: OE hela, haeligla f. Gmc
2.
v. & n.
—v.
1 intr. (of a ship etc.) lean over owing to the pressure of wind or an uneven load (cf. LIST(2)).
2 tr. cause (a ship etc.) to do this.
—n. the act or amount of heeling.
Etymology: prob. f. obs. heeld, hield incline, f. OE hieldan, OS -heldian f. Gmc
3.
var. of HELE.
Useful english dictionary. 2012.