Definition
nounEach of the five digits on the end of the human foot.
nounThe equivalent part in an animal.
Sentence Examples
A strict father makes his children toe the line by thorough training.
Someone stepped on my toe in the crowded bus.
He accidentally stubbed his big toe against the corner of the table.
Word Origin & History
From Middle English to, from Old English tā, (Mercian) tāhe, from Proto-West Germanic *taihā, from Proto-Germanic *taihwǭ, from *tīhwaną (“to show, announce”), from Proto-Indo-European *deyḱ- (“to show”).
Cognate with Dutch teen, German Zehe, Danish, Norwegian Bokmål, Norwegian Nynorsk, and Swedish tå, Faroese and Icelandic tá; also Old English teōn (“to accuse”), German zeihen (“to accuse, blame”); see also Hittite [script needed] (tekkuššāi), Latin dīcere (“to say”), digitus (“finger”), Ancient Greek δείκνυμι (deíknumi, “to point out, show”), Sanskrit दिदेष्टि (dídeṣṭi), दिशति (diśáti).
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"An old traditional prescription for provoking erotic inclinations ran as follows, The toe of the foot of a man, anointed with oil, or honey, or the ashes of a weasel."
— 1961, Harry E. Wedeck, Dictionary of Aphrodisiacs, New York: The Citadel Press, page 234:
""Here's ten shillings for you, but I'm going to toe your backside first!" said Manna. And the Dane let him kick away; his yellow teeth gleamed in a servile grin and then he clutched at the money."
— 1927, Nordahl Grieg, The Ship Sails On, page 153:
"Just five minutes later the turnaround was complete when Arshavin toed the ball through to Bendtner, who slotted into the left corner from close range just before half-time."
— 2010 December 29, Mark Vesty, “Wigan 2 - 2 Arsenal”, in BBC: