finger, fenger, fingre, fynger, fyngre, vingre

[A. S. finger; cogn. with Dut. vinger; Icel. fingr; Dan. & Sw. finger; Goth. figgrs; Ger. finger; O. H. Ger. fingar.] Probably from the same root as fang (q. v.). IMG:content-1650.png:[blocks in formation] "His fingers held the pen." Cowper: Lo of the Royal George. (2) Anything resembling or serving the purpose of a finger; an index. (3) A small measure; the width of a finger. "One of these bows with a little arrow did pierce through a piece of steel three fingers thick."-Wilkins: Mathematical Magic. (4) The hand, the instrument of work or art. "Lay to your fingers; help to bear this away." Shakesp.: Tempest, iv. 2. Fig.: A very little distance or extent. II. Technically: 1. Music : Ability or skill in playing on a keyed instrument. ""What a finger! cried Mrs. Ponto."-Thackeray: Book of Snobs, ch. xxv. 2. Machinery: (1) A small projecting rod or wire, which is brought into contact with an object to effect or restrain a motion. Known as a gripper in printing machinery. (2) One of a row of similar projections, as the finger of a rake. Sometimes synonymous with tooth. 3. Husbandry : One of the projecting pieces on the finger-bar of a harvester, within and against which the knives play. [FINGER-BAR.] (1) To have a finger in: To be concerned or mixed up in. (2) To have at one's fingers ' ends: To know perfectly; to be perfectly familiar with. (3) To arrive at one's fingers ' ends: To be brought to great poverty. (4) Purple fingers: Bot.: is purpure a. (5) Fingers -and-thumbs: Bot.: Lotus corniculatus. (6) Fingers - and - toes: Bot.: (1) Lotus corniculatus; (2) [FINGER-ANDTOE.]