finger

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Fingered p. pr. & vb. n. Fingering. ] 1. To touch with the fingers; to handle; to meddle with. [ 1913 Webster ]

Let the papers lie;
You would be fingering them to anger me. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To touch lightly; to toy with. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Mus.) (a) To perform on an instrument of music. (b) To mark the notes of (a piece of music) so as to guide the fingers in playing. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. To take thievishly; to pilfer; to purloin. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. To execute, as any delicate work. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. ] 1. 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 ]

2. Anything that does the work of a finger; as, the pointer of a clock, watch, or other registering machine; especially (Mech.) a small projecting rod, wire, or piece, which is brought into contact with an object to effect, direct, or restrain a motion. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. 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. Bp. Wilkins. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. Skill in the use of the fingers, as in playing upon a musical instrument. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

She has a good finger. Busby. [ 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 (Zool.), a marine shell (Pholas dactylus) resembling a finger in form. --
Finger sponge (Zool.), 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. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. a guidepost resembling a hand with a pointing index finger.
Syn. -- fingerpost. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

2. a bank of keys on a musical instrument.
Syn. -- piano keyboard, clavier. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

3. a narrow strip of wood on the neck of some stringed instruments (violin or cello or guitar etc) where the strings are held against the wood with the fingers. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. the length or breadth of a finger used as a linear measure.
Syn. -- finger, finger's breadth, digit. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. a close-fitting sheath worn at the end of a finger, for protection of the finger or to avoid soiling the object touched.
Syn. -- fingerstall, cot{ 3 }. [ WordNet 1.5 +PJC ]

a. 1. Having fingers. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Bot.) Having leaflets like fingers; digitate. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Mus.) Marked with figures designating which finger should be used for each note. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who fingers; a pilferer. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. The act or process of handling or touching with the fingers. [ 1913 Webster ]

The mere sight and fingering of money. Grew. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. The manner of using the fingers in playing or striking the keys of an instrument of music; movement or management of the fingers in playing on a musical instrument, in typewriting, etc. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. The marking of the notes of a piece of music to guide or regulate the action or use of the fingers. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. Delicate work made with the fingers. Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ]