THUM, noun The short thick finger of the human hand, or the corresponding member of other animals. [The common orthography is corrupt. The real word is thum ] THUMB THUM, , verb transitive To handle awkwardly; to play with the fingers; as, to thum over a tune. 1. To soil with the fingers. THUMB THUM, verb intransitive To play on with the fingers. THUMB'-BAND THUM'-BAND , noun [thum and band.] A twist of any thing as thick as the thum
Source: Webster's 1828 American Dictionary ↗ · public-domain · returned verbatim, no AI