thumbstall

American

[thuhm-stawl] / ˈθʌmˌstɔl /

noun

a protective sheath of rubber, leather, or the like for the thumb.

thumbstall British

/ ˈθʌmˌstɔːl /

noun

a protective sheathlike cover for the thumb

"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

Etymology

Origin of thumbstall

First recorded in 1580–90; thumb + stall ¹

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Captains of guns to provide themselves with percussion-primers, thumbstalls, and priming-wire, and to see that the men of their respective parts of the gun's crew discharge their several duties promptly and carefully.

From Project Gutenberg

"I thank ye," she said heartily, and pressing down the thumbstall of the latch, went in.

From Project Gutenberg

The thumbstall has been made of various materials, but its use is somewhat inconvenient for the Gun Captain, and he cannot feel that the vent is stopped.

From Project Gutenberg

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023