E. Cobham Brewer 1810–1897. Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 1898.
Fingers.
The old names for the fingers are:—
1
Thumb (Anglo-Saxon thuma).
2
Towcher (the finger that touches), foreman, or pointer. This was called by the Anglo-Saxons the scite-finger, i.e. the shooting finger.
3
Long-man or long finger.
4
Lech-man or ring-finger. The former means “medical finger,” and the latter is a Roman expression, “digitus annula’ris.” Called by the Anglo-Saxons the gold-finger.
5
Little-man or little finger. Called by the Anglo-Saxons the eár-finger.
6
Fingers. Ben Jonson says—
7
“The thumb, in chiromancy, we give to Venus;
The fore-finger to Jove; the midst to Saturn;
The ring to Sol; the least to Mercury”
Alchemist, i. 2.
His fingers are all thumbs. Said of a person awkward in the use of his hands. Ce soni les deux doigts de la main.
