*heel*

. A kind of heavily built dished wheel with a long axle box, used on gun carriages, usually having 14 spokes and 7 felloes; hence, a wheel of similar construction for use on automobiles, etc. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

n. (Wrestling) A method of tripping by getting the leg back of the opponent's heel on the outside and pulling forward while pushing his body back; a throw made in this way. -- v. t. To trip (a person) in this way. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

1. (Horology) (a) A wheel which regulates the beats or pulses of a watch or chronometer, answering to the pendulum of a clock; -- often called simply a balance. (b) A ratchet-shaped scape wheel, which in some watches is acted upon by the axis of the balance wheel proper (in those watches called a balance). [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Mach.) A wheel which imparts regularity to the movements of any engine or machine; a fly wheel. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A water wheel, on which the stream of water strikes neither so high as in the overshot wheel, nor so low as in the undershot, but generally at about half the height of the wheel, being kept in contact with it by the breasting. The water acts on the float boards partly by impulse, partly by its weight. [ 1913 Webster ]

1. A wheel without teeth, used to turn a similar one by the friction of bristles or something brushlike or soft attached to the circumference. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A circular revolving brush used by turners, lapidaries, silversmiths, etc., for polishing. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. the type of wheel used on a cart; it typically has wooden spokes and a metal rim. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

2. an acrobatic maneuver in which the arms and legs are outstretched like the spokes of a wheel, and the body is turned sideways through one or more revolutions, by first touching the hands and then the feet to the ground, in rapid succession so as to mimic the rolling of a wheel; in the course of this feat, the person performing it is alternately upright and upside-down. [ WordNet 1.5 +PJC ]

3. a silver dollar; a dollar made of silver. [ Colloq. ] [ WordNet 1.5 ]

v. i. 1 to perform a cartwheel{ 2 }.
Syn. -- do cartwheels. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

A flanged wheel of a railway car or truck. [ 1913 Webster ]

See catherine wheel. [ 1913 Webster ]

[ So called from St. Catherine of Alexandria, who is represented with a wheel, in allusion to her martyrdom. ] 1. (Geoth.Arth.) Same as Rose window and Wheel window. Called also Catherine-wheel window. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Pyrotechny) A revolving piece of fireworks resembling in form the window of the same name. [ Written also Catharine wheel. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

1. A chain pulley, or sprocket wheel. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. An inversion of the chain pump, by which it becomes a motor driven by water. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A wheel with cogs or teeth; a gear wheel. See Illust. of Gearing. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. (Mil.) To cause to wheel or turn in an opposite direction. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The wheel in a clock which regulates the number of strokes. [ 1913 Webster ]

[ Named from its resemblance to a crown. ] (Mach.) A wheel with cogs or teeth set at right angles to its plane; -- called also a contrate wheel or face wheel. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. To encircle. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The rotating wheel in an escapement mechanism which has notches that are periodically engaged and disengaged by the anchor. [ PJC ]

a. Light-heeled; gay; frisky; frolicsome. [ Colloq. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

An amusement device consisting of a giant power-driven vertically oriented steel wheel, revolvable on its horizontal stationary axle, and carrying a number of balanced passenger cars or open seats around its rim; the seats are suspended so as to remain horizontal as the wheel rotates, and, depending on the size of the wheel, the passengers when they reach the top may have a grand vista of the surrounding area; -- so called after G. W. G. Ferris, American engineer, who erected the first of its kind for the World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago in 1893. Ferris wheels are often found at traveling fairs and at permanent amusement parks. The Reisenrad in Vienna is one of the world's largest and most famous Ferris wheels. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. +PJC ]

n. An annual of the central U. S. (Gaillardia pulchella) having showy long-stalked yellow flower heads marked with scarlet or purple in the center.
Syn. -- blanket flower, Indian blanket, Gaillardia pulchella. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. A heavy wheel or disk which stores kinetic energy by rotating on a shaft, and by its momentum smoothes the operation of a reciprocating engine by reducing fluctuations of speed. It is used in certain types of machinery, such as automobiles. [ WordNet 1.5 +PJC ]

☞ Flywheels rotating at high speed have also been proposed as a means to store kinetic energy for use as a low-polluting source of energy in vehicles. [ PJC ]

a. Having four wheels. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A vehicle having four wheels; specifically, a hackney carriage with four weels. [ Colloq. ] [ 1913 Webster + WordNet 1.5 ]

n. (Mach.) A clutch fitted in the rear hub of a cycle, which engages the rear sprocket with the rear wheel when the pedals are rotated forwards, but permits the rear wheel to run on free from the rear sprocket when the pedals are stopped or rotated backwards. Freewheelcycles are usually fitted with hub brakes or rim brakes, operated by back pedaling. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

v. i. 1. (a) Of a freewheel cycle, to run on while the pedals are held still. (b) Of a person, to ride a cycle of this manner; to coast in a vehicle having a freewheel. To ride a freewheel cycle. [ wns=2 ] [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

2. (Mach.) To operate like a freewheel, so that one part moves freely over another which normally moves with it; -- said of a clutch. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

3. To act without controls, external or internal; to live freely, independently, and without concern; -- of people. [ wns=1 ] [ PJC ]

n. Someone acting freely or even irresponsibly.
Syn. -- free agent, free spirit. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

adj. Acting heedless of consequences; acting without controls, external or internal; as, freewheeling foolishness.
Syn. -- careless, irresponsible, reckless. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

(Shoemaking) A tool for ornamenting the edge of a sole. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Mach.) Any wheel worked by hand; esp., one the rim of which serves as the handle by which a valve, car brake, or other part is adjusted. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. [ OE. helden to lean, incline, AS. heldan, hyldan; akin to Icel. halla, Dan. helde, Sw. hälla to tilt, pour, and perh. to E. hill. ] (Naut.) To lean or tip to one side, as a ship; as, the ship heels aport; the boat heeled over when the squall struck it. [ 1913 Webster ]

Heeling error (Naut.), a deviation of the compass caused by the heeling of an iron vessel to one side or the other. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ OE. hele, heele, AS. hēla, perh. for hōhila, fr. AS. hōh heel (cf. Hough); but cf. D. hiel, OFries. heila, hēla, Icel. hæll, Dan. hæl, Sw. häl, and L. calx. √12. Cf. Inculcate. ] 1. The hinder part of the foot; sometimes, the whole foot; -- in man or quadrupeds. [ 1913 Webster ]

He [ the stag ] calls to mind his strength and then his speed,
His winged heels and then his armed head. Denham. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. The hinder part of any covering for the foot, as of a shoe, sock, etc.; specif., a solid part projecting downward from the hinder part of the sole of a boot or shoe. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. The latter or remaining part of anything; the closing or concluding part. “The heel of a hunt.” A. Trollope. “The heel of the white loaf.” Sir W. Scott. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. Anything regarded as like a human heel in shape; a protuberance; a knob. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. The part of a thing corresponding in position to the human heel; the lower part, or part on which a thing rests; especially: (a) (Naut.) The after end of a ship's keel. (b) (Naut.) The lower end of a mast, a boom, the bowsprit, the sternpost, etc. (c) (Mil.) In a small arm, the corner of the but which is upwards in the firing position. (d) (Mil.) The uppermost part of the blade of a sword, next to the hilt. (e) The part of any tool next the tang or handle; as, the heel of a scythe. [ 1913 Webster ]

6. (Man.) Management by the heel, especially the spurred heel; as, the horse understands the heel well. [ 1913 Webster ]

7. (Arch.) (a) The lower end of a timber in a frame, as a post or rafter. In the United States, specif., the obtuse angle of the lower end of a rafter set sloping. (b) A cyma reversa; -- so called by workmen. Gwilt. [ 1913 Webster ]

8. (Golf) The part of the face of the club head nearest the shaft. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

9. In a carding machine, the part of a flat nearest the cylinder. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

Heel chain (Naut.), a chain passing from the bowsprit cap around the heel of the jib boom. --
Heel plate, the butt plate of a gun. --
Heel of a rafter. (Arch.) See Heel, n., 7. --
Heel ring, a ring for fastening a scythe blade to the snath. --
Neck and heels, the whole body. (Colloq.) --
To be at the heels of, to pursue closely; to follow hard; as, hungry want is at my heels. Otway. --
To be down at the heel, to be slovenly or in a poor plight. --
To be out at the heels, to have on stockings that are worn out; hence, to be shabby, or in a poor plight. Shak. --
To cool the heels. See under Cool. --
To go heels over head, to turn over so as to bring the heels uppermost; hence, to move in a inconsiderate, or rash, manner. --
To have the heels of, to outrun. --
To lay by the heels, to fetter; to shackle; to imprison. Shak. Addison. --
To show the heels, to flee; to run from. --
To take to the heels, to flee; to betake to flight. --
To throw up another's heels, to trip him. Bunyan. --
To tread upon one's heels, to follow closely. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Heeled p. pr. & vb. n. Heeling. ] 1. To perform by the use of the heels, as in dancing, running, and the like. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

I cannot sing,
Nor heel the high lavolt. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To add a heel to; as, to heel a shoe. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To arm with a gaff, as a cock for fighting. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. (Golf) To hit (the ball) with the heel of the club. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

5. (Football) To make (a fair catch) standing with one foot advanced, the heel on the ground and the toe up. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

n. A composition of wax and lampblack, used by shoemakers for polishing, and by antiquaries in copying inscriptions. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. A cock that strikes well with his heels or spurs. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A dependent and subservient hanger-on of a political patron. [ Political Cant, U. S. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

The army of hungry heelers who do their bidding. The Century. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Without a heel. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ So called with a play upon the words tow and toe. ] The bank of a canal opposite, and corresponding to, that of the towpath; berm. [ U. S. ]

The Cowles found convenient spiles sunk in the heelpath. The Century. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

n. 1. A piece of armor to protect the heels. Chesterfield. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A piece of leather fixed on the heel of a shoe. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. The end. “The heelpiece of his book.” Lloyd. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. (Naut.) The post supporting the outer end of a propeller shaft. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Carp.) The post to which a gate or door is hinged. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Engineering) The quoin post of a lock gate. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Zool.) A slender bony or cartilaginous process developed from the heel bone of bats. It helps to support the wing membranes. See Illust. of Cheiropter. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. One of the segments of leather in the heel of a shoe. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A small portion of liquor left in a glass after drinking. “Bumpers around and no heeltaps.” Sheridan. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Heeltapped p. pr. & vb. n. Heeltapping. ] To add a piece of leather to the heel of (a shoe, boot, etc.) [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A tool used by turners in metal, having a bend forming a heel near the cutting end. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. To encircle. [ R. ] Beau. & Fl. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Bot.) Indian cress. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Lively in walking or running; brisk; light-footed. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A program that delivers hot meals to persons, such as the elderly or disabled, who are confined to their homes and unable to cook for themselves; also, the meals thus delivered. Such programs are usually conducted by governmental or charitable organizations. [ PJC ]

n. a waterwheel that is used to drive machinery in a mill. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

(Mech.) A form of impulse turbine or water wheel, consisting of a row of double cup-shaped buckets arranged round the rim of a wheel and actuated by one or more jets of water playing into the cups at high velocity. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]