pollex

Meaning

1. (declension-3, masculine) thumb
2. (declension-3, masculine) big toe
3. (declension-3, masculine) a unit of distance, equivalent to approximately 24.6 mm; one uncia (see also: Ancient Roman units of measurement)
4. (declension-3, masculine) seal (insignia)

Concepts

thumb

big toe

pollex

toe

Synonyms

digitus

digitus primus

hallus

Translations

Daumen

pouce

pulgar

pollice

polze

polegar

duim

başparmak

dedo polegar

poce

αντίχειρας

dito grosso

dit gros

ditone

Pronounced as (IPA)

[ˈpɔl.lɛks]

Etymology

Of uncertain origin.
Traditionally connected to Proto-Slavic *palьcь (“thumb”), with contamination from Latin polleō (“to be strong”) (hence pollex, not *pōlex). However, De Vaan is unconvinced, and instead prefers Meier-Brügger's derivation from a Proto-Italic *por-likʰ-s (“which is licked over”), from Proto-Indo-European *per- (“through”) + *leyǵʰ- (“to lick”), with the second syllable in the nominative singular becoming -lex based on the model of other body parts, such as vortex (“whirl; top of the head”) inflecting with -ex.