heels

1. the back part of the human foot below the ankle.
2. the part of the palm of the hand next to the wrist.

   he rubbed the heel of his hand against the window

3. the end of a violin bow at which it is held.
4. an inconsiderate or untrustworthy person.

   what kind of a heel do you think I am?

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

   they were soling and heeling heavy working boots

2. (of a dog) follow closely behind its owner.

   these dogs are born with the instinctive urge to heel

3. strike (the ball) with the heel of the club.
4. push or kick (the ball) out of the back of the scrum with one's heel.

   the ball was eventually heeled out

5. touch the ground with the heel when dancing.

   they got into lines and began to heel, toe, and then jump together

Old English hēla, hǣla, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch hiel, also to hough.

1. (of a boat or ship) lean over owing to the pressure of wind or an uneven load.

   the boat heeled in the freshening breeze

   the Mary Rose heeled over and sank in 1545

plural noun

an instance of a ship heeling.

late 16th century: from obsolete heeld, hield ‘incline’, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch hellen .

1. set a plant in the ground and cover its roots.

   the plants can be heeled in together in a sheltered spot

Old English helian ‘cover, hide’, of Germanic origin, from an Indo-European root shared by Latin celare ‘hide’.