pollex

American  

[pol-eks] / ˈpɒl ɛks /

noun

plural

pollices

1. the innermost digit of the forelimb; thumb.

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pollex British  

/ ˈpɒlɪkəl, ˈpɒlɛks /

noun

1. the first digit of the forelimb of amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals, such as the thumb of man and other primates

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Other Word Forms

• pollical adjective

Etymology

Origin of pollex

Borrowed into English from Latin around 1825–35

Example Sentences

There are no nuptial tuberosities on the pollex of breeding males.

From A Distributional Study of the Amphibians of the Isthmus of Tehuantepec, Mexico by Duellman, William E.

In the forefoot all the digits except the pollex, or first, were well developed.

From A History of Science — Volume 3 by Williams, Henry Smith

Eohippus—Lower Eocene of America; fore-feet have four toes and a rudimentary thumb or pollex.

From Creation and Its Records by Baden-Powell, Baden Henry

Thus, we have a nail; pollex, pouce, pulgada, Swedish tum, for an inch; which word has been misapplied by our Saxon predecessors, and corrupted from the Latin uncia, which related only to weight.

From Sound Mind or, Contributions to the natural history and physiology of the human intellect by Haslam, John

Quorundam corpore partes nascuntur ad aliqua mirabiles sicut Pyrrho regi pollex in dextero pede: cuius tactu lienosis medebatur.

From The Principal Navigations, Voyages, Traffiques and Discoveries of the English Nation — Volume 09 Asia, Part II by Hakluyt, Richard