'Pholas dactylus' definitions:

Definition of 'Pholas dactylus'

From: GCIDE
  • Finger \Fin"ger\ (f[i^][ng]"g[~e]r), n. [AS. finger; akin to D. vinger, OS. & OHG. fingar, G. finger, Icel. fingr, Sw. & Dan. finger, Goth. figgrs; of unknown origin; perh. akin to E. fang.]
  • 1. One of the five terminating members of the hand; a digit; esp., one of the four extremities of the hand, other than the thumb. [1913 Webster]
  • 2. Anything that does the work of a finger; as, the pointer of a clock, watch, or other registering machine; especially (Mech.) a small projecting rod, wire, or piece, which is brought into contact with an object to effect, direct, or restrain a motion. [1913 Webster]
  • 3. The breadth of a finger, or the fourth part of the hand; a measure of nearly an inch; also, the length of finger, a measure in domestic use in the United States, of about four and a half inches or one eighth of a yard. [1913 Webster]
  • A piece of steel three fingers thick. --Bp. Wilkins. [1913 Webster]
  • 4. Skill in the use of the fingers, as in playing upon a musical instrument. [R.] [1913 Webster]
  • She has a good finger. --Busby. [1913 Webster]
  • Ear finger, the little finger.
  • Finger alphabet. See Dactylology.
  • Finger bar, the horizontal bar, carrying slotted spikes, or fingers, through which the vibratory knives of mowing and reaping machines play.
  • Finger board (Mus.), the part of a stringed instrument against which the fingers press the strings to vary the tone; the keyboard of a piano, organ, etc.; manual.
  • Finger bowl Finger glass, a bowl or glass to hold water for rinsing the fingers at table.
  • Finger flower (Bot.), the foxglove.
  • Finger grass (Bot.), a kind of grass (Panicum sanguinale) with slender radiating spikes; common crab grass. See Crab grass, under Crab.
  • Finger nut, a fly nut or thumb nut.
  • Finger plate, a strip of metal, glass, etc., to protect a painted or polished door from finger marks.
  • Finger post, a guide post bearing an index finger.
  • Finger reading, reading printed in relief so as to be sensible to the touch; -- so made for the blind.
  • Finger shell (Zool.), a marine shell (Pholas dactylus) resembling a finger in form.
  • Finger sponge (Zool.), a sponge having finger-shaped lobes, or branches.
  • Finger stall, a cover or shield for a finger.
  • Finger steel, a steel instrument for whetting a currier's knife. [1913 Webster]
  • To burn one's fingers. See under Burn.
  • To have a finger in, to be concerned in. [Colloq.]
  • To have at one's fingers' ends, to be thoroughly familiar with. [Colloq.] [1913 Webster]