Sole (?), n. [AS. sole, fr. L. soolea (or rather an assumed L. sola), akin to solumround, soil, sole of the foot. Cf. Exile, Saloon, Soil earth, Sole the fish.] 1. The bottom of the foot; hence, also, rarely, the foot itself.
The dove found no rest for the sole of her foot. Gen. viii. 9.
Hast wandered through the world now long a day,
Yet ceasest not thy weary soles to lead. Spenser.
2. The bottom of a shoe or boot, or the piece of leather which constitutes the bottom.
The “caliga” was a military shoe, with a very thick sole, tied above the instep. Arbuthnot.
3. The bottom or lower part of anything, or that on which anything rests in standing. Specifially: (a) (Agric.) The bottom of the body of a plow; — called also slade; also, the bottom of a furrow. (b) (Far.) The horny substance under a horse's foot, which protects the more tender parts. (c) (Fort.) The bottom of an embrasure. (d) (Naut.) A piece of timber attached to the lower part of the rudder, to make it even with the false keel. Totten. (e) (Mining) The seat or bottom of a mine; — applied to horizontal veins or lodes.
Sole leather, thick, strong, used for making the soles of boots and shoes, and for other purposes.