Where did the names of the fingers of human hands come from?

2024 Author: Henry Conors | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-02-12 02:43

From early childhood, we remember the names of the fingers. Hearing that someone cut their index finger, broke a nail on a large one, or wears a ring on the middle one, our imagination immediately draws a hand and its necessary members with certain features. Where did all these names come from and what do they really mean?

Ancient Roman fingers

All peoples had their own names for body parts. In ancient times, human knowledge of anatomy was very conditional. Therefore, physiology was closely intertwined with mystical beliefs. In ancient Rome, the names of the fingers were associated with the peculiarities of the use of each and imaginary connections with other systems and organs of the body. The pointer got its name because of the convenience of indicating direction. Yes, yes, the “pointing finger” gesture, for which we scold children today, can be safely considered instinctive, since it is the extreme finger of the four adjacent ones that moves best on its own. The original name of the index is "index". The middle one had two names "impudis" and "obscoenus" at once. These finger names in Latin can be literally translated into modern Russian as"dirty" or "unclean". It is very simple to explain them - it was the middle that the ancient Romans used in the toilet. But the ring finger, on the contrary, was considered the cleanest, since its use in everyday life is limited. It was called "digitus" and was used only in special cases, for example, pharmacists mixed their healing potions with it. The little finger was called "auricularis" or "ear", and indeed, it is most convenient for them to clean the ears.

Origin of modern names

In the old days in Russia, instead of the word "finger", they used the designation "finger". However, today it is outdated. But the names of the fingers have firmly entered our speech and are even used in official medical terminology. Starting from the edge of the hand, these are: large, index, middle, ring, little finger. Explaining exactly where these finger names come from is not entirely simple. The middle one is designated by its location relative to the neighboring ones, and the little finger - from the old Russian "little finger" - the smallest. And if everything is clear with the index and nameless, then the name "big" sounds somewhat illogical. After all, in fact, this finger is the shortest and thickest. However, do not forget that the word "big" in Russian is often used in a figurative sense - "main". The finger got its name because it is located first and is able to perform many functions on its own.

Interesting facts about the human hand

The name of the fingers of a person's hand may indicate the functions they perform. ATin particular, the big one is really the most mobile and independent. Often, with injuries to the hand, the hand is bandaged, leaving this finger outside the bandage. And the resulting "claw" the patient can perform some simple actions. In second place in terms of usefulness and activity is index. With this finger, it is most convenient not only to gesticulate, but also to feel some objects, wipe off dirt and perform other similar actions. The nameless one is rarely used on its own, but it is indispensable when typing on the keyboard or playing some musical instruments. It is useful to learn the names of the fingers with the child as early as possible; for teaching kids in a playful way, there are special finger games and interesting counting rhymes. For older children, you can tell the history of the origin of the name for each finger and explain what each was historically used for.

Why is a wedding ring worn on the ring finger?

Today we can easily determine whether a person is married, just look at his hands. Many human fingers have names according to their functions, but the ring finger, which is also the least mobile, has been used for wearing wedding rings since time immemorial. In some languages, it is even called "ring". This tradition originated in the ancient world, according to the Romans and Egyptians, a “vein of love” passes through the ring finger - a large vessel connecting the limb to the heart. In Rome and Egypt, rings were worn on the left hand. In modern Russia, it is customary to wear a symbol of marriage onfinger of the right limb, and in many European countries they still follow ancient traditions.