Heel1, n.
n. [A-S. hēl, pl. hēla, O. D. hiele, N. D. hiel, O. Fries. heila, hēla, Icel. höll, höll, Dan. & Sw. häl, allied to Lat. calx, Ir. sal, Gael. sail.]
Sense 1. The hinder part of the foot; hence, sometimes, the whole foot;—in man or quadrupeds.
The stag recalls his strength, his speed, His winged heels. Denham.
Sense 2. The hinder part of any covering for the foot, as of a shoe, sock, &c.
Sense 3. The latter or remaining part of any thing; the closing or concluding part; as, the heel of a session. “The heel of the white loaf that cam frae the bailie’s.” W. Scott.
Sense 4. Something considered as shaped like a human heel; a protuberance; a knob. Mortimer.
Sense 5. A spur, as being set on the heel of a boot; as, the horse understands the heel well.
Sense 6. The part of a thing corresponding in position to the human heel; the lower back-part, or part on which a thing rests; especially, (Naut.) (a.) The after-end of a ship’s keel. (b.) The lower end of a mast, a boom, the bowsprit, the stern-post, &c. Totten.
Sense 7. (Arch.) A cyma reversa, so called by workmen. Gwill.
Heel of a rafter (Arch.), the end or part that rests on the wall-plate. Gwill.—Neck and heels, the whole length of the body.—To be at the heels of, to pursue closely; to follow hard; also, to attend closely. “Hungry want is at my heels.” Otway.—To be out at the heels, to have on stockings that are worn out; hence, to be in bad condition.—To cool the heels, to wait.—To go heels over head, to turn over so as to bring the heels uppermost; hence, to move in a hasty, inconsiderate, or rash manner.—To have the heels of, to outrun.—To lay by the heels, to fetter; to shackle; to confine. Addison.—To show the heels, to flee; to run from.—To take to the heels, to flee; to betake to flight.