The names we use for fingers are kinda silly
Thumb: this is a unique word for this finger, sure
Index finger: why do we call it that??
Middle finger: sure
Ring finger: heteronormative but fine
Pinky: ??? Diminutive for pink?? Why??
@shel i learned index as "pointer finger" which checks out tbh
@witchfynder_finder @chr @shel "Thumb" apparently has roots in PIE meaning "to swell" and in Proto-Germanic is related to an adjective that just meant "thick".
"Index" is from Latin "indicare" with is "in/upon/on/into" + "proclaim" or, basically "to point out". They also used "index" to mean the finger you're thinking of among other things. So it looks like a straight-up borrowing. Looks like "index" was used to mean the forefinger in the 14th century, then fell out for the book thing, and "index finger" as a phrase popped back up in 1768.
@shel @chr @witchfynder_finder Looks like "pinkie" (Etymonline doesn't see "pinky" as having to do with fingers) is just this, so I weon't even summarize:
"the little finger," 1808, in Scottish, from Dutch pinkje, diminutive of pink "little finger," of uncertain origin.