finger, n. [AS. finger; akin to D. vinger, OS. & OHG. fingar, G. finger, Icel. fingr, Sw. & Dan. finger, Goth. figgrs; of unknown origin; perh. akin to E. fang.].

One of the five terminating members of the hand; a digit; esp., one of the four extremities of the hand, other than the thumb. [1913 Webster]
Anything that does the work of a finger; as, the pointer of a clock, watch, or other registering machine; [1913 Webster]
The breadth of a finger, or the fourth part of the hand; a measure of nearly an inch; also, the length of finger, a measure in domestic use in the United States, of about four and a half inches or one eighth of a yard. [1913 Webster]
"A piece of steel three fingers thick." [1913 Webster]
Skill in the use of the fingers, as in playing upon a musical instrument. [1913 Webster]
"She has a good finger." [1913 Webster]

Ear finger, the little finger. -- Finger alphabet. See Dactylology. -- Finger bar, the horizontal bar, carrying slotted spikes, or fingers, through which the vibratory knives of mowing and reaping machines play. -- Finger board (Mus.), the part of a stringed instrument against which the fingers press the strings to vary the tone; the keyboard of a piano, organ, etc.; manual. -- Finger bowl Finger glass, a bowl or glass to hold water for rinsing the fingers at table. -- Finger flower (Bot.), the foxglove. -- Finger grass (Bot.), a kind of grass (Panicum sanguinale) with slender radiating spikes; common crab grass. See Crab grass, under Crab. -- Finger nut, a fly nut or thumb nut. -- Finger plate, a strip of metal, glass, etc., to protect a painted or polished door from finger marks. -- Finger post, a guide post bearing an index finger. -- Finger reading, reading printed in relief so as to be sensible to the touch; -- so made for the blind. -- Finger shell (Zoöl.), a marine shell (Pholas dactylus) resembling a finger in form. -- Finger sponge (Zoöl.), a sponge having finger-shaped lobes, or branches. -- Finger stall, a cover or shield for a finger. -- Finger steel, a steel instrument for whetting a currier's knife.

To burn one's fingers. See under Burn. -- To have a finger in, to be concerned in. [Colloq.] -- To have at one's fingers' ends, to be thoroughly familiar with. [Colloq.]

finger, v. t.

To touch with the fingers; to handle; to meddle with. [1913 Webster]
"Let the papers lie;
You would be fingering them to anger me." [1913 Webster]
To touch lightly; to toy with. [1913 Webster]
To perform on an instrument of music. [1913 Webster]
To take thievishly; to pilfer; to purloin. Shak. [1913 Webster]
To execute, as any delicate work. [1913 Webster]

finger, v. i.

To use the fingers in playing on an instrument. Busby. [1913 Webster]

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OXFORD DICTIONARY

finger, n. & v.
--n.
1 any of the terminal projections of the hand (including or excluding the thumb).
2 the part of a glove etc. intended to cover a finger.
3 a a finger-like object (fish finger). b a long narrow structure.
4 colloq. a measure of liquor in a glass, based on the breadth of a finger.
5 sl. a an informer. b a pickpocket. c a policeman.
--v.tr.
1 touch, feel, or turn about with the fingers.
2 Mus. a play (a passage) with fingers used in a particular way. b mark (music) with signs showing which fingers are to be used. c play upon (an instrument) with the fingers.
3 US sl. indicate (a victim, or a criminal to the police).

Idiom

all fingers and thumbs clumsy. finger alphabet a form of sign language using the fingers. finger-board a flat strip at the top end of a stringed instrument, against which the strings are pressed to determine tones. finger-bowl (or -glass) a small bowl for rinsing the fingers during a meal. finger language language expressed by means of the finger alphabet. finger-mark a mark left on a surface by a finger. finger-paint n. paint that can be applied with the fingers.
--v.intr. apply paint with the fingers. finger-plate a plate fixed to a door above the handle to prevent finger-marks. finger-post a signpost at a road junction. one's fingers itch (often foll. by to + infin.) one is longing or impatient. finger-stall a cover to protect a finger, esp. when injured. get (or pull) one's finger out sl. cease prevaricating and start to act. have a finger in the pie be (esp. officiously) concerned in the matter. lay a finger on touch however slightly. put one's finger on locate or identify exactly. put the finger on sl.
1 inform against.
2 identify (an intended victim). twist (or wind) round one's finger (or little finger) persuade (a person) without difficulty, dominate (a person) completely. work one's fingers to the bone see BONE.

Derivative

fingered adj. (also in comb.). fingerless adj.

Etymology

OE f. Gmc

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THESAURUS

finger

accuse, acquire, advert to, allege, allude to, annulary, appoint, arraign, article, be master of, be taken as, bear witness, betray, book, bring accusation, bring charges, bring to book, bring to mind, buy, call to mind, charge, cite, claws, clutches, come by, come in contact, complain, condemn to death, dactylion, denominate, denote, denounce, denunciate, designate, determinate, diagnose, digit, digits, disappear, discover, distinguish, do something, dominate, elude, emblematize, escape, fangs, fasten on, fasten upon, feel, feel of, figure, figure in, find, fingernails, fingers, flick, forefinger, get away, get cracking, get hold of, handle, hands, hang something on, have under control, hit, hooks, identify, impeach, imply, impute, index, index finger, indicate, indict, influence, inform against, inform on, insinuate, jaws, lay charges, little finger, locate, lodge a complaint, lodge a plaint, lord it over, make, make a move, make an attempt, make an effort, mandibles, manipulate, maxillae, meathooks, medius, middle finger, minimus, mitts, monkey with, nails, name, nippers, nominate, offer, palm, palpate, paw, pick out, pin down, pin on, pincers, pinkie, pinpoint, place, ply, point at, point out, point to, poke at, pollex, pounces, prefer charges, press charges, prod, punch, purchase, put on report, recall, recognize, recollect, refer to, remember, report, reproach, ring finger, select, snitch on, specify, spot, stand for, stigmatize, strike, symbol, symbolize, take to task, talons, tap, task, tattle on, taunt with, tax, teeth, tell on, think of, thumb, touch, track down, twiddle, twit, typify, unearth, unguals, ungulae, vanish, wield, zero in on

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ROGET THESAURUS

finger

Retention

N retention, retaining, keep, detention, custody, tenacity, firm hold, grasp, gripe, grip, iron grip, fangs, teeth, claws, talons, nail, unguis, hook, tentacle, tenaculum, bond, clutches, tongs, forceps, pincers, nippers, pliers, vice, paw, hand, finger, wrist, fist, neaf, neif, bird in hand, captive, retaining, retentive, tenacious, unforfeited, undeprived, undisposed, uncommunicated, incommunicable, inalienable, in mortmain, in strict settlement, uti possidetis.

Touch

N touch, tact, taction, tactility, feeling, palpation, palpability, contrectation, manipulation, massage, hand, finger, forefinger, thumb, paw, feeler, antenna, palpus, tactual, tactile, tangible, palpable, lambent.

VB touch, feel, handle, finger, thumb, paw, fumble, grope, grabble, twiddle, tweedle, pass the fingers over, run the fingers over, manipulate, wield, throw out a feeler.

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