why are toes called toes
2006-09-01 02:34:02 · 23 answers · asked by dundeeflower_2 1 in Social Science ➔ Anthropology
Because the word 'hand" was already in use.
2006-09-01 02:35:45 · answer #1 · answered by BlueSea 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It was not called foot some time ago, it was called a 'claw', and before that a 'fin'. If we go further back into the history of our foot it was merely a protruding scale - very useful for slithering along nevertheless.
The reason foot has travelled this far to assume its present smart and slender shape, complex and a popular name to go with, is unknown. My guess, however, is that foot wanted us to reach each other faster and quicker ever so more gracefully. It would also be quite pertinent here to mention that a smart pair of feet can help us run away form each other as well when and where a situation arises.
It is a useful thing, and deserves to be called foot for all the good reasons. Besides, if you would try to call foot something other than a foot, or a toe something other that a toe we will realise that people around you are thinking with there feet, for example, or they are chewing food with their feet etc - try it, you might get this working.
2006-09-01 09:57:58 · answer #2 · answered by Shahid 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
They called them "feet" and not "nuts" because if you had a long day at work standing up, then you'd come home and say, "boy, my nuts are killing me." And then everyone would laugh at you. So, I think a wise person in the beginning times of our language development decided to call them "feet" to spare us embarrassing faux pas.
This is just speculation though!
As far as the word "toes".....well, I have no idea. I think it is already a silly word. Maybe that was on purpose too, and that's why most people's toes are ticklish? Just a guess...
Good luck!!
2006-09-01 09:41:02 · answer #3 · answered by BeZeee 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Many, many thousands of years ago, children made up names for things that had no names. These names were then passed on down the generations. However, sometimes people changed the way they said them, little by little, and so different languages emerged. Words like foot, being recognisable variations of words of similar meaning in other languages, must go back to the original ancient language, but ultimately, someone just made up the original form.
2006-09-01 11:35:59 · answer #4 · answered by cdrotherham 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because the word "foot" comes from the Middle English "fot", from Old English "fÅt".
Toes are so called because they come from Middle English, from the Old English "tÄ".
Look in a dictionary, you might just find many other word etymologies.
2006-09-01 09:41:59 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because your foot is attached to your ankles and your toes are attached to your foot.
2006-09-01 22:39:35 · answer #6 · answered by Neptune2bsure 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There was a king whose feet were a foot long (12 inches). They based it on this... although hardly anyone's feet are truly a foot long in inches, it became the standard name for it. Hope that helped. =]
2006-09-01 09:41:14 · answer #7 · answered by kae 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A foot is at the "foot" of your body
Like the foot of a tree!.But trees dont have feet do they.Its the bottom or base!.Thanx for more points
2006-09-01 09:40:08 · answer #8 · answered by peter m 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
the word '' foot" comes from the old german language and means "lower" or "beneath" thus we have --foot- the lower part of the body.
2006-09-01 10:24:51 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because it is a foot!
2006-09-01 09:48:27 · answer #10 · answered by tolquit 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋