physic finger

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English[edit]

Etymology[edit]

Calque of the Latin digitus medicus.

Noun[edit]

physic finger (plural physic fingers)

  1. the ring finger
    • 1988, D. August Hunt, The Road of the Sun[1], →ISBN, page 8:
      [] Iasius ('healer') is the physic finger; Idas ('he of Mount Ida' — Rhea's seat) is the oracular little finger.
    • 1998, Douglas Monroe, The Lost Books of Merlyn: Druid Magic from the Age of Arthur[2], →ISBN, page 322:
      Alder, physic finger, By power of divination,
      Diagnose all maladies of a doubtful mind.
    • 2004, Nathaniel Harris, Witcha: A Book of Cunning[3], →ISBN, page 107:
      From the confessions given by these witches, it seems that their initiation was sealed by a mark made with a pin prick upon the upper and middle joints of the physic finger.

Synonyms[edit]