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2017 Word of the Year

finger

[fing-ger] /ˈfɪŋ gər/
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noun
1.
any of the terminal members of the hand, especially one other than the thumb.
2.
a part of a glove made to receive a finger.
3.
the breadth of a finger as a unit of measurement; digit.
4.
the length of a finger: approximately 4½ inches (11 cm).
5.
Slang. an informer or spy.
6.
something like a finger in form or use, as a projection or pointer:
a finger of land leading out into the bay; the finger on the speedometer.
7.
any of various projecting parts of machines.
verb (used with object)
8.
to touch with the fingers; toy or meddle with; handle.
9.
to touch with the fingers so as to mar or spoil:
Please don't finger the vegetables.
10.
to pilfer; filch.
11.
Music.
  1. to play on (an instrument) with the fingers.
  2. to perform or mark (a passage of music) with a certain fingering.
12.
Slang.
  1. to inform against or identify (a criminal) to the authorities:
    He fingered the man who robbed the bank.
  2. to designate as a victim, as of murder or other crime.
verb (used without object)
13.
to touch or handle something with the fingers.
14.
to extend in or as in the shape of a finger:
Landing piers finger out into the river along the city's shoreline.
Idioms
15.
burn one's fingers, to suffer injury or loss by meddling or by acting rashly:
If you get involved in the controversy, you may burn your fingers.
16.
give (someone) the finger, Slang. to express contempt for by or as by the obscene gesture of pointing the middle finger upward while folding the other fingers against the palm.
17.
have a finger in the pie,
  1. to have an interest or share in something.
  2. to meddle in something.
18.
keep one's fingers crossed, to wish for good luck or success, as in a specific endeavor:
Keep your fingers crossed that I get the job.
19.
lay / put one's finger on,
  1. to indicate exactly; remember:
    I know the name, but I can't put my finger on it.
  2. to discover; locate:
    I haven't been able to lay my finger on the book you requested.
20.
not lift a finger, to make not even a small attempt; do nothing:
The house was falling into ruin, but he wouldn't lift a finger to repair it.
21.
put the finger on, Slang. finger (def 12).
22.
slip through one's fingers,
  1. to elude one, as an opportunity not taken; escape:
    She let the chance of a lifetime slip through her fingers.
  2. to pass or be consumed quickly:
    Money just slips through his fingers.
23.
snap one's fingers (at), to exhibit disdain or contempt (for):
She snaps her fingers at the local gossip.
24.
twist / wrap around one's little finger, to exert one's influence easily or successfully upon:
He has a remarkable talent for twisting people around his little finger.
Origin of finger
Old English
900
before 900; Middle English, Old English; cognate with German Finger, Dutch vinger, Old Norse fingr, Gothic figgrs
Related forms
fingerer, noun
fingerless, adjective
refinger, verb
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2017.
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Examples from the Web for finger
Contemporary Examples
Historical Examples

  • Had his fist in my face before I could get my finger on the trigger.

    Way of the Lawless Max Brand

  • She must not put even a finger out of the cellar-door all day.

    Weighed and Wanting George MacDonald

  • Ah, by my finger bones, there is my sweet Mary from the Priory Mill!

    The White Company Arthur Conan Doyle

  • He ran his finger around his collar—an old gesture; but the collar was very loose.

    K Mary Roberts Rinehart

  • She stood looking down, twisting her ring around her finger.

    K Mary Roberts Rinehart
British Dictionary definitions for finger

finger

/ˈfɪŋɡə/
noun
1.
  1. any of the digits of the hand, often excluding the thumb Technical name digitus manus
  2. (as modifier): a finger bowl
  3. (in combination): a fingernail, related adjective digital
2.
the part of a glove made to cover a finger
3.
something that resembles a finger in shape or function: a finger of land
4.
Also called digit. the length or width of a finger used as a unit of measurement
5.
a quantity of liquid in a glass, etc, as deep as a finger is wide; tot
6.
a projecting machine part, esp one serving as an indicator, guide, or guard
7.
burn one's fingers, to suffer from having meddled or been rash
8.
(Brit, informal) get one's finger out, pull one's finger out, to begin or speed up activity, esp after initial delay or slackness
9.
have a finger in the pie, have one's finger in the pie
  1. to have an interest in or take part in some activity
  2. to meddle or interfere
10.
(usually negative) lay a finger on, to harm
11.
lay one's finger on, put one's finger on, to indicate, identify, or locate accurately
12.
let slip through one's fingers, to allow to escape; miss narrowly
13.
(foll by an infinitive) not lift a finger, not raise a finger, not to make any effort (to do something)
14.
point the finger at, to accuse or blame
15.
(informal) put the finger on
  1. to inform on or identify, esp for the police
  2. to choose (the victim or location of an intended crime)
16.
twist around one's little finger, wrap around one's little finger, to have easy and complete control or influence over
verb
17.
(transitive) to touch or manipulate with the fingers; handle
18.
(transitive) (informal, mainly US) to identify as a criminal or suspect
19.
(intransitive) to extend like a finger
20.
to use one's fingers in playing (an instrument, such as a piano or clarinet)
21.
to indicate on (a composition or part) the fingering required by a pianist, harpsichordist, etc
22.
(transitive; usually passive) to arrange the keys of (a clarinet, flute, etc) for playing in a certain way
Derived Forms
fingerer, noun
fingerless, adjective
Word Origin
Old English; related to Old Norse fingr, Gothic figgrs, Old High German fingar; see five, fist
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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Word Origin and History for finger
n.

Old English fingor, from Proto-Germanic *fingraz (cf. Old Saxon fingar, Old Frisian finger, Old Norse fingr, Dutch vinger, German Finger, Gothic figgrs), with no cognates outside Germanic; perhaps connected with PIE *penkwe-, the root meaning "five."

As a unit of measure (Middle English) it represents the breadth of a finger, about three-quarters of an inch. They generally are numbered from the thumb, and named index finger, fool's finger, leech- or physic-finger, and ear-finger.

v.

early 15c., "to touch or point to with the finger" (but cf. fingering from late 14c.), from finger (n.). Sense of "play upon a musical instrument" is from 1510s. The meaning "identify a criminal" is underworld slang first recorded 1930. Related: Fingered; fingering.

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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finger in Medicine

finger fin·ger (fĭng'gər)
n.
One of the five digits of the hand, especially one other than the thumb.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Cite This Source
Slang definitions & phrases for finger

finger

noun

  1. A police informer; stool pigeon (1930s+ Underworld)
  2. A person who tells thieves about potential loot (1920s+ Underworld)
  3. About a half-inch of liquor in a glass: Maybe I'd better have another finger of the hooch (1856+)

verb

  1. To locate and point out someone: You're the guy that fingered Manny Tinnen/ artificially heightening the tale's drama (by fingering the sponsor) (1920s+ Underworld)
  2. To tell thieves about the location, value, etc, of potential loot: I fingered the robberies (1920s+ Underworld)
  3. To insert a finger into the vulva; fingerfuck: With one hand Larry was fingering me (1970s+)

Related Terms

butterfingers, five fingers, give five fingers to, give someone the finger, not lay a glove on someone, play stinky-pinky, put one's finger on something, put the finger on someone, stand around with one's finger up one's ass

The Dictionary of American Slang, Fourth Edition by Barbara Ann Kipfer, PhD. and Robert L. Chapman, Ph.D.
Copyright (C) 2007 by HarperCollins Publishers.
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Idioms and Phrases with finger

finger

In addition to the idiom beginning with
finger
also see:
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Cite This Source

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Word Value for finger

10
12
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