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.
@benhamill @chr @shel So the index finger is still the pointer finger.
Glorious.
@witchfynder_finder @benhamill @chr so if the toe next to the big toe the pointer toe?
@shel @witchfynder_finder @chr I don't point things out with my toes, so I don't think I have a pointer toe.
@shel @benhamill I mean. If you cock your head to indicate a direction, that's KINDA like pointing with your ears...
@witchfynder_finder @shel It FEELS like I'm pointing with either the top of my head or my nose, though...
@shel @witchfynder_finder So maybe I don't have pointer toes, but I have a pointer nose?
@witchfynder_finder @shel @benhamill Which head hurts
Well doc it's my pointer head
@benhamill @shel @witchfynder_finder if you don't point with your toes what do you point with your ears