Part 779

Heel"piece` (?), n. 1. A piece of armor to protect the heels. Chesterfield.

2. A piece of leather fixed on the heel of a shoe.

3. The end. "The heelpiece of his book." Lloyd.

Heel"post` (?), n. 1. (Naut.) The post supporting the outer end of a propeller shaft.

2. (Carp.) The post to which a gate or door is hinged.

3. (Engineering) The quoin post of a lock gate.

Heel"spur` (?), n. (Zoˆl.) A slender bony or cartilaginous process developed from the heel bone of bats. It helps to support the wing membranes. See Illust. of Cheiropter.

Heel"tap` (?), n. 1. One of the segments of leather in the heel of a shoe.

2. A small portion of liquor left in a glass after drinking. "Bumpers around and no heeltaps." Sheridan.

Heel"tap`, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Heeltapped (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Heeltapping.] To add a piece of leather to the heel of (a shoe, boot, etc.)

Heel"tool` (?), n. A tool used by turners in metal, having a bend forming a heel near the cutting end.

Heep (?), n. The hip of the dog- rose. [Obs.]

Heer (?), n.[Etymol. uncertain.] A yarn measure of six hundred yards or of a spindle. See Spindle.

Heer, n. [See Hair.] Hair. [Obs.] Chaucer.

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Heft (?), n. Same as Haft, n. [Obs.] Waller.

Heft, n. [From Heave: cf. hefe weight. Cf. Haft.] 1. The act or effort of heaving&?; violent strain or exertion. [Obs.]

He craks his gorge, his sides, With violent hefts.

Shak.

2. Weight; ponderousness. [Colloq.]

A man of his age and heft.

T. Hughes.

3. The greater part or bulk of anything; as, the heft of the crop was spoiled. [Colloq. U. S.] J. Pickering.

Heft, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Hefted (Heft, obs.); p. pr. & vb. n. Hefting.] 1. To heave up; to raise aloft.

Inflamed with wrath, his raging blade he heft.

Spenser.

2. To prove or try the weight of by raising. [Colloq.]

Heft"y, a. Moderately heavy. [Colloq. U. S.]