heel

Concise Oxford English Dictionary © 2008 Oxford University Press:
heel1

▶noun

• 1 the back part of the foot below the ankle.

  ■ the part of the palm of the hand next to the wrist.

• 2 the part of a shoe or boot supporting the heel.

• 3 informal, dated an inconsiderate or untrustworthy person.

• 4 the end of a violin bow at which it is held.

• 5 the part of the head of a golf club nearest the shaft.

• 6 a crusty end of a loaf of bread.

• 7 a piece of the main stem of a plant left attached to the base of a cutting.

▶exclamation a command to a dog to walk close behind its owner. ▶verb

• 1 fit or renew a heel on (a shoe or boot).

• 2 Rugby push or kick (the ball) out of the back of the scrum with one's heel.

• 3 Golf strike (the ball) with the heel of the club.

• 4 touch the ground with the heel when dancing.

– phrases
at (or on) the heels of following closely after.
bring someone to heel bring someone under control.
cool (or Brit. kick) one's heels be kept waiting.
kick up one's heels N. Amer. have a lively, enjoyable time.
take to one's heels run away.
turn (on one's) heel turn sharply.

– derivatives
-heeled adjective,
heelless adjective.

– origin OE hēla, hǣla, of Gmc origin; rel. to hough.

Concise Oxford English Dictionary © 2008 Oxford University Press:
heel2

▶verb (of a ship) lean over owing to the pressure of wind or an uneven load. ▶noun an instance of heeling, or the amount that a ship heels.

– origin C16: from obs. heeld, hield ‘incline’, of Gmc origin.

Concise Oxford English Dictionary © 2008 Oxford University Press:
heel3

▶verb (heel something in) set a plant in the ground and cover its roots.

– origin OE helian ‘cover, hide’, of Gmc origin.