Definition of heel

• v. i. - To lean or tip to one side, as a ship; as, the ship heels aport; the boat heeled over when the squall struck it.
• n. - The hinder part of the foot; sometimes, the whole foot; -- in man or quadrupeds.
• n. - 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.
• n. - The latter or remaining part of anything; the closing or concluding part.
• n. - Anything regarded as like a human heel in shape; a protuberance; a knob.
• n. - The part of a thing corresponding in position to the human heel; the lower part, or part on which a thing rests
• n. - The after end of a ship's keel.
• n. - The lower end of a mast, a boom, the bowsprit, the sternpost, etc.
• n. - In a small arm, the corner of the but which is upwards in the firing position.
• n. - The uppermost part of the blade of a sword, next to the hilt.
• n. - The part of any tool next the tang or handle; as, the heel of a scythe.
• n. - Management by the heel, especially the spurred heel; as, the horse understands the heel well.
• n. - 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.
• n. - A cyma reversa; -- so called by workmen.
• v. t. - To perform by the use of the heels, as in dancing, running, and the like.
• v. t. - To add a heel to; as, to heel a shoe.
• v. t. - To arm with a gaff, as a cock for fighting.