heel

n. [ OE. hele, heele, AS. hēla, perh. for hōhila, fr. AS. hōh heel (cf. Hough); but cf. D. hiel, OFries. heila, hēla, Icel. hæll, Dan. hæl, Sw. häl, and L. calx. √12. Cf. Inculcate. ] 1. The hinder part of the foot; sometimes, the whole foot; -- in man or quadrupeds. [ 1913 Webster ]

He [ the stag ] calls to mind his strength and then his speed,
His winged heels and then his armed head. Denham. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. The hinder part of any covering for the foot, as of a shoe, sock, etc.; specif., a solid part projecting downward from the hinder part of the sole of a boot or shoe. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. The latter or remaining part of anything; the closing or concluding part. “The heel of a hunt.” A. Trollope. “The heel of the white loaf.” Sir W. Scott. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. Anything regarded as like a human heel in shape; a protuberance; a knob. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. The part of a thing corresponding in position to the human heel; the lower part, or part on which a thing rests; especially: (a) (Naut.) The after end of a ship's keel. (b) (Naut.) The lower end of a mast, a boom, the bowsprit, the sternpost, etc. (c) (Mil.) In a small arm, the corner of the but which is upwards in the firing position. (d) (Mil.) The uppermost part of the blade of a sword, next to the hilt. (e) The part of any tool next the tang or handle; as, the heel of a scythe. [ 1913 Webster ]

6. (Man.) Management by the heel, especially the spurred heel; as, the horse understands the heel well. [ 1913 Webster ]

7. (Arch.) (a) The lower end of a timber in a frame, as a post or rafter. In the United States, specif., the obtuse angle of the lower end of a rafter set sloping. (b) A cyma reversa; -- so called by workmen. Gwilt. [ 1913 Webster ]

8. (Golf) The part of the face of the club head nearest the shaft. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

9. In a carding machine, the part of a flat nearest the cylinder. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

Heel chain (Naut.), a chain passing from the bowsprit cap around the heel of the jib boom. --
Heel plate, the butt plate of a gun. --
Heel of a rafter. (Arch.) See Heel, n., 7. --
Heel ring, a ring for fastening a scythe blade to the snath. --
Neck and heels, the whole body. (Colloq.) --
To be at the heels of, to pursue closely; to follow hard; as, hungry want is at my heels. Otway. --
To be down at the heel, to be slovenly or in a poor plight. --
To be out at the heels, to have on stockings that are worn out; hence, to be shabby, or in a poor plight. Shak. --
To cool the heels. See under Cool. --
To go heels over head, to turn over so as to bring the heels uppermost; hence, to move in a inconsiderate, or rash, manner. --
To have the heels of, to outrun. --
To lay by the heels, to fetter; to shackle; to imprison. Shak. Addison. --
To show the heels, to flee; to run from. --
To take to the heels, to flee; to betake to flight. --
To throw up another's heels, to trip him. Bunyan. --
To tread upon one's heels, to follow closely. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]