Toe v.

[f. prec. sb.]

  1.  trans. To furnish with a toe or toes; to make or put a new toe on (a stocking, etc.): cf. HEEL v.¹ 2.

1607–8.  T. Cocks, Diary, Feb. (1901), 26. Paide for heelinge & toynge a payer of iersy stockings vj d.

1660.  Howell, Parly of Beasts, 39. They all bowed their snaky heads down to their very feet, which were toed with Scorpions.

  2.  To touch or reach with the toes; chiefly in to toe a or the line, mark, scratch, crack, to stand with the tips of one’s toes exactly touching a line; to stand in a row; hence fig. to present oneself in readiness for a race, contest, or undertaking; also, to conform to the defined standard or platform of a party.

1833.  Marryat, P. Simple, ix. He desired us to ‘toe a line,’ which means to stand in a row.

1840.  R. H. Dana, Bef. Mast, xxvii. The chief mate … marked a line on the deck, brought the two boys up to it, making them ‘toe the mark.’

1853.  ‘C. Bede,’ Verdant Green, II. iv. Toeing the scratch for business.

1862.  Maclaren, Milit. Syst. Gymnastic Exerc., 37. There should be … a permanent mark to ‘toe’ at starting.

1895.  Westm. Gaz., 15 Jan., 8/1. The phrase ‘toeing the line’ is very much in favour with some Liberals.

1910.  Daily News, 30 March, 7. To-day they had decided to toe the line with the progressive workers of the country.

  3.  a. To kick with the toe. b. Golf. To strike (a ball) with the tip of the club: cf. HEEL v.¹ 5 c.

1865.  Nixon, P. Perfume, 58. Tom toed them out.

1893.  Lang, in Longm. Mag., April, 651. They might toe or heel the ball.

  4.  intr. To move the toe, to tap rhythmically with the toe in dancing; to toe and heel (it), to dance.

1828.  Examiner, 630/1. A Sailor toe-and-heels it, and lock-steps and straddles.

1859.  Dickens, Haunted House, VIII. 48. There ensued such toe-and-heeling, and buckle-covering, and double-shuffling.

1882.  Punch, 27 Dec., 302/2. Fiddler, tune up merrily! Toe and heel it happily.

  5.  trans. Carpentry. To secure or join together by nails driven obliquely: see TOED ppl. a. 2.

  Hence Toeing vbl. sb.

1871.  G. Meredith, H. Richmond, III. 188. Your French phrases and toeings!