forefinger

American  

[fawr-fing-ger, fohr-] / ˈfɔrˌfɪŋ gər, ˈfoʊr- /

noun

1. the first finger next to the thumb.

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forefinger British  

/ ˈfɔːˌfɪŋɡə /

noun

1. Also called: index finger.  the finger next to the thumb

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Etymology

Origin of forefinger

First recorded in 1400–50, forefinger is from the late Middle English word forefyngure. See fore-, finger

Example Sentences

They held up the Rigid Forefinger and warned him that he was merely a Grain of Dust and a Weakling and a poor juvenile Mutt whose Mission in Life was to Lie Down and Behave.

From Knocking the Neighbors by Ade, George

Forefinger It points here and there, touching the things in question, but it cannot see.

From A Little Book of Filipino Riddles by Starr, Frederick

"Forefinger for Shepherd's Crook" was what Mrs. Cryptic-Sparkler had said of Sir Rebus.

From A Christmas Garland by Beerbohm, Max, Sir

A gesture sign for sunrise, morning, is: Forefinger of right hand crooked to represent half of the sun's disk and pointed or extended to the left, then slightly elevated.

From Sign Language Among North American Indians Compared With That Among Other Peoples And Deaf-Mutes First Annual Report of the Bureau of Ethnology to the Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, 1879-1880, Government Printing Office, Washington, 1881, pages 263-552 by Mallery, Garrick

Now and then he put a Forefinger to his Brow and glanced at the Mirror to make sure that he still resembled William Cullen Bryant.

From Fables in Slang by Newman, Clyde J.