אצבע

אֶצְבַּעf. (b. h.; = עצבע; עצב, √צב, cmp. Job 10:8; cmp. טבע a. טבעת) 1) finger, esp. index-finger. Men.11a זו א׳ with this (the fourth from the little finger) the measure of ‘a finger is taken; Keth.5b. Y.Taan.IV, 68d bot.; Lam. R. to II, 2 (מטיפי) מקוטעי א׳ who had their finger cut off (in evidence of devotion to the cause). Yoma I, 7 א׳ צרדה; Tosef. ib. 9 explained א׳ גדולה middle finger; cmp. Tanḥ. Bo, end, expl. אמצעית.Keth.71a הוא נותן א׳וכ׳ he (the husband) puts his finger between her teeth (and must expect to be bitten), i. e. has to take the consequences of not interfering with her vow in due time. 2) any projecting limb resembling the shape of a finger. Ḥull.61a א׳ יתירה the projecting toe on a birds claw. Tam.4, 3 (31a) א׳ הכבד the lobe of the liver.Fig. (like יד) share, part. Y.Pes.IV, 31a top; Y.Ab. Zar. I, 40a top, v. אֶמְצַע.Pl. אֶצְבָּעוֹת. Ḥag.15a; a. fr. (mostly in the sense of fingers length).Pes.112b; Nidd.66a euphem. for membra virilia.Dual אֶצְבְּעַיִּם, אֶצְבְּעַיִּים, Cant. R. to VIII, 11 גידם א׳ one whose (index) fingers were lopped (stump-like). Ib. that whole trade of mine אינה נקנית אלא בא׳ cannot be acquired except by learning how to use the index-fingers.Pes.109a, a. e. two finger lengths.