[toh] 
,noun, verb, toed, toe⋅ing.| 1. | one of the terminal digits of the human foot. |
| 2. | an analogous part in certain animals. |
| 3. | the forepart of the foot or hoof of a horse or the like. |
| 4. | the forepart of anything worn on the foot, as of a shoe or stocking. |
| 5. | a part resembling a toe in shape or position. |
| 6. | Railroads. the end of a frog in front of the point and in the direction of the switch. |
| 7. | Machinery.
|
| 8. | Golf. the outer end of the head of a club. |
| 9. | to furnish with a toe or toes. |
| 10. | to touch or reach with the toes: The pitcher toed the mound, wound up, and threw a fastball. |
| 11. | to kick with the toe. |
| 12. | Golf. to strike (the ball) with the toe of the club. |
| 13. | Carpentry.
|
| 14. | to stand, walk, etc., with the toes in a specified position: to toe in. |
| 15. | to tap with the toe, as in dancing. |
| 16. | on one's toes, energetic; alert; ready: The spirited competition kept them on their toes. |
| 17. | step or tread on (someone's) toes, to offend (a person); encroach on the territory or sphere of responsibility of (another): The new employee stepped on a lot of toes when he suggested reorganizing the office. |
| 18. | toe the line. line 1 (def. 82). |
"The chief mate ... marked a line on the deck, brought the two boys up to it, making them 'toe the mark.' " [R.H. Dana, "Two Years Before the Mast," 1840]Toenail is from 1841. To be on (one's) toes "alert, eager" is recorded from 1921.
toe (tō)
n.
Any of the digits of a foot.
on one's toes
Alert, ready to act, as in Orchestra players must be on their toes all the time, so as not to miss an entrance. This metaphoric expression probably alludes to boxers or runners who must be on their toes in order to move or start quickly. It gained currency with Richard Rodgers' and Lorenz Hart's extremely popular musical, On Your Toes (1936). [Early 1900s]