From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
Thumb \Thumb\, n. [OE. thombe, thoumbe, [thorn]ume, AS.
[thorn][=u]ma; akin to OFries. th[=u]ma, D. duim, G. daumen,
OHG. d[=u]mo, Icel. [thorn]umall, Dan. tommelfinger, Sw.
tumme, and perhaps to L. tumere to swell. [root]56. Cf.
{Thimble}, {Tumid}.]
The short, thick first digit of the human hand, differing
from the other fingers in having but two phalanges; the
pollex. See {Pollex}.
[1913 Webster]
Upon his thumb he had of gold a ring. --Chaucer.
[1913 Webster]
{Thumb band}, a twist of anything as thick as the thumb.
--Mortimer.
{Thumb blue}, indigo in the form of small balls or lumps,
used by washerwomen to blue linen, and the like.
{Thumb latch}, a door latch having a lever formed to be
pressed by the thumb.
{Thumb mark}.
(a) The mark left by the impression of a thumb, as on the
leaves of a book. --Longfellow.
(b) The dark spot over each foot in finely bred black and tan
terriers.
{Thumb nut}, a nut for a screw, having wings to grasp between
the thumb and fingers in turning it; also, a nut with a
knurled rim for the same perpose.
{Thumb ring}, a ring worn on the thumb. --Shak.
{Thumb stall}.
(a) A kind of thimble or ferrule of iron, or leather, for
protecting the thumb in making sails, and in other work.
(b) (Mil.) A buckskin cushion worn on the thumb, and used to
close the vent of a cannon while it is sponged, or
loaded.
{Under one's thumb}, completely under one's power or
influence; in a condition of subservience. [Colloq.]
[1913 Webster]
From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
Thumb \Thumb\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Thumbed}; p. pr. & vb. n.
{Thumbing}.]
1. To handle awkwardly. --Johnson.
[1913 Webster]
2. To play with the thumbs, or with the thumbs and fingers;
as, to thumb over a tune.
[1913 Webster]
3. To soil or wear with the thumb or the fingers; to soil, or
wear out, by frequent handling; also, to cover with the
thumb; as, to thumb the touch-hole of a cannon.
[1913 Webster]
He gravely informed the enemy that all his cards had
been thumbed to pieces, and begged them to let him
have a few more packs. --Macaulay.
[1913 Webster]
From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
Thumb \Thumb\, v. i.
To play with the thumb or thumbs; to play clumsily; to thrum.
[1913 Webster]
From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]:
thumb
n 1: the thick short innermost digit of the forelimb [syn:
{thumb}, {pollex}]
2: the part of a glove that provides a covering for the thumb
3: a convex molding having a cross section in the form of a
quarter of a circle or of an ellipse [syn: {ovolo}, {thumb},
{quarter round}]
v 1: travel by getting free rides from motorists [syn:
{hitchhike}, {hitch}, {thumb}]
2: look through a book or other written material; "He thumbed
through the report"; "She leafed through the volume" [syn:
{flick}, {flip}, {thumb}, {riffle}, {leaf}, {riff}]
3: feel or handle with the fingers; "finger the binding of the
book" [syn: {finger}, {thumb}]
From The Jargon File (version 4.4.7, 29 Dec 2003) [jargon]:
thumb
n.
The slider on a window-system scrollbar. So called because moving it allows
you to browse through the contents of a text window in a way analogous to
thumbing through a book.
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