heel

Webster's Dictionary (GCIDE)

1.The hinder part of the foot; sometimes, the whole foot; -- in man or quadrupeds. [1913 Webster]

He [the stag] calls to mind his strength and then his speed, His winged heels and then his armed head.— Denham.[1913 Webster]

2.The hinder part of any covering for the foot, as of a shoe, sock, etc.; specif., a solid part projecting downward from the hinder part of the sole of a boot or shoe. [1913 Webster]

3.The latter or remaining part of anything; the closing or concluding part. "The heel of a hunt." --A. Trollope. "The heel of the white loaf." --Sir W. Scott. [1913 Webster]

4.Anything regarded as like a human heel in shape; a protuberance; a knob. [1913 Webster]

5.The part of a thing corresponding in position to the human heel; the lower part, or part on which a thing rests; especially: (a) (Naut.) The after end of a ship's keel. (b) (Naut.) The lower end of a mast, a boom, the bowsprit, the sternpost, etc. (c) (Mil.) In a small arm, the corner of the but which is upwards in the firing position. (d) (Mil.) The uppermost part of the blade of a sword, next to the hilt. (e) The part of any tool next the tang or handle; as, the heel of a scythe. [1913 Webster]

6.(Man.) Management by the heel, especially the spurred heel; as, the horse understands the heel well. [1913 Webster]

7.(Arch.) (a) The lower end of a timber in a frame, as a post or rafter. In the United States, specif., the obtuse angle of the lower end of a rafter set sloping. (b) A cyma reversa; -- so called by workmen. --Gwilt. [1913 Webster]

8.(Golf) The part of the face of the club head nearest the shaft. [Webster 1913 Suppl.]

9.In a carding machine, the part of a flat nearest the cylinder. [Webster 1913 Suppl.]

Heel chain (Naut.), a chain passing from the bowsprit cap around the heel of the jib boom.

Heel plate, the butt plate of a gun.

Heel of a rafter. (Arch.) See Heel, n., 7.

Heel ring, a ring for fastening a scythe blade to the snath.

Neck and heels, the whole body. (Colloq.)

To be at the heels of, to pursue closely; to follow hard; as, hungry want is at my heels. --Otway.

To be down at the heel, to be slovenly or in a poor plight.

To be out at the heels, to have on stockings that are worn out; hence, to be shabby, or in a poor plight. --Shak.

To cool the heels. See under Cool.

To go heels over head, to turn over so as to bring the heels uppermost; hence, to move in a inconsiderate, or rash, manner.

To have the heels of, to outrun.

To lay by the heels, to fetter; to shackle; to imprison. --Shak. --Addison.

To show the heels, to flee; to run from.

To take to the heels, to flee; to betake to flight.

To throw up another's heels, to trip him. --Bunyan.

To tread upon one's heels, to follow closely. --Shak. [1913 Webster]

Heeling error (Naut.), a deviation of the compass caused by the heeling of an iron vessel to one side or the other. [1913 Webster]

1.To perform by the use of the heels, as in dancing, running, and the like. [R.] [1913 Webster]

I cannot sing, Nor heel the high lavolt.— Shak.[1913 Webster]

2.To add a heel to; as, to heel a shoe. [1913 Webster]

3.To arm with a gaff, as a cock for fighting. [1913 Webster]

4.(Golf) To hit (the ball) with the heel of the club. [Webster 1913 Suppl.]

5.(Football) To make (a fair catch) standing with one foot advanced, the heel on the ground and the toe up. [Webster 1913 Suppl.]