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

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

A. The thumb hath three, but the third is joined to the arm, therefore is stronger than the other fingers; and is called pollex or polico, that is, to excel in strength.

From The Works of Aristotle the Famous Philosopher Containing his Complete Masterpiece and Family Physician; his Experienced Midwife, his Book of Problems and his Remarks on Physiognomy by Aristotle

A pollex is wanting, as in the cassowary, emeu and apteryx, while it is impossible to say whether remiges are represented or not.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 10, Slice 2 "Fairbanks, Erastus" to "Fens" by Various

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.

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