Heel, n.
 1. The hinder part of the foot; sometimes, the whole foot; -- in man or quadrupeds.
 He [the stag] calls to mind his strength and then his speed,
 His winged heels and then his armed head.   --Denham.
 2. The hinder part of any covering for the foot, as of a shoe, sock, etc.; specif., a solid part projecting downward from the hinder part of the sole of a boot or shoe.
 3. The latter or remaining part of anything; the closing or concluding part. “The heel of a hunt.” --A. Trollope. “The heel of the white loaf.” --Sir W. Scott.
 4. Anything regarded as like a human heel in shape; a protuberance; a knob.
 5. The part of a thing corresponding in position to the human heel; the lower part, or part on which a thing rests; especially: (a) Naut. The after end of a ship's keel. (b) Naut. The lower end of a mast, a boom, the bowsprit, the sternpost, etc. (c) Mil. In a small arm, the corner of the but which is upwards in the firing position. (d) Mil. The uppermost part of the blade of a sword, next to the hilt. (e) The part of any tool next the tang or handle; as, the heel of a scythe.
 6. Man. Management by the heel, especially the spurred heel; as, the horse understands the heel well.
 7. Arch. (a) The lower end of a timber in a frame, as a post or rafter. In the United States, specif., the obtuse angle of the lower end of a rafter set sloping. (b) A cyma reversa; -- so called by workmen.
 8. Golf The part of the face of the club head nearest the shaft.
 9.  In a carding machine, the part of a flat nearest the cylinder.
 Heel chain Naut., a chain passing from the bowsprit cap around the heel of the jib boom.
 Heel plate, the butt plate of a gun.
 Heel of a rafter. Arch. See Heel, n., 7.
 Heel ring, a ring for fastening a scythe blade to the snath.
 Neck and heels, the whole body. (Colloq.)
 To be at the heels of, to pursue closely; to follow hard; as, hungry want is at my heels. --Otway.
 To be down at the heel, to be slovenly or in a poor plight.
 To be out at the heels, to have on stockings that are worn out; hence, to be shabby, or in a poor plight. --Shak.
 To cool the heels. See under Cool.
 To go heels over head, to turn over so as to bring the heels uppermost; hence, to move in a inconsiderate, or rash, manner.
 To have the heels of, to outrun.
 To lay by the heels, to fetter; to shackle; to imprison. --Shak. --Addison.
 To show the heels, to flee; to run from.
 To take to the heels, to flee; to betake to flight.
 To throw up another's heels, to trip him. --Bunyan.
 To tread upon one's heels, to follow closely. --Shak.