2. To play with the thumbs, or with the thumbs and fingers;
as, to thumb over a tune.
3. To soil or wear with the thumb or the fingers; to soil, or
wear out, by frequent handling; also, to cover with the
thumb; as, to thumb the touch-hole of a cannon.
He gravely informed the enemy that all his cards had
been thumbed to pieces, and begged them to let him
have a few more packs. --Macaulay.
Upon his thumb he had of gold a ring. --Chaucer.
{Thumb band}, a twist of anything as thick as the thumb.
--Mortimer.
{Thumb blue}, indigo in the form of small balls or lumps,
used by washerwomen to blue linen, and the like.
{Thumb latch}, a door latch having a lever formed to be
pressed by the thumb.
{Thumb mark}.
(a) The mark left by the impression of a thumb, as on the
leaves of a book. --Longfellow.
(b) The dark spot over each foot in finely bred black and tan
terriers.
{Thumb nut}, a nut for a screw, having wings to grasp between
the thumb and fingers in turning it; also, a nut with a
knurled rim for the same perpose.
{Thumb ring}, a ring worn on the thumb. --Shak.
{Thumb stall}.
(a) A kind of thimble or ferrule of iron, or leather, for
protecting the thumb in making sails, and in other work.
(b) (Mil.) A buckskin cushion worn on the thumb, and used to
close the vent of a cannon while it is sponged, or
loaded.
{Under one's thumb}, completely under one's power or
influence; in a condition of subservience. [Colloq.]