G01147

δάκτυλος

Etym. Deriv. uncertain: perh. from δείκνυμι.

I. "a finger", Lat. digitus, ἐπὶ δακτύλων συμβάλλεσθαι to reckon on "the fingers", Hdt.; ὁ μέγας δ. "the thumb", id=Hdt.

2. οἱ δ. τῶν ποδῶν "the toes", Xen.; and δάκτυλος alone, like Lat. digitus, a toe, Ar.

II. the shortest Greek measure of length, "a finger's breadth", = about 7/10 of an inch, Hdt.

III. a metrical foot, "dactyl", ¯ ˘ ˘, Plat.