THUMB

I. noun Etymology: Middle English thoume, thoumbe, from Old English thūma; akin to Old High German thūmo ~, Latin tumēre to swell Date: before 12th century the short thick digit of the human hand that is analogous in position to the big toe and differs from the other fingers in having only two phalanges, allowing greater freedom of movement, and being opposable to each of them, the part of a glove or mitten that covers the ~, a convex molding ; ovolo , II. verb Date: circa 1647 transitive verb 1. to leaf through (pages) with the ~ ; turn , to soil or wear by or as if by repeated ~ing , to request or obtain (a ride) in a passing automobile by signaling with the ~, intransitive verb to turn over pages , to travel by ~ing rides ; hitchhike