Dactylion is a word that refers to the tip of the middle finger, and is spelled with the help of IPA phonetic transcription as [dækˈtɪliən]. The first syllable, "dac," is pronounced as "dæk," with an "a" sound like in "cat." The second syllable, "tyl," is pronounced as "tɪl," with an "i" sound like in "sit." The third and final syllable, "ion," is pronounced as "iən," with an "ee" sound like in "miss" and a short "o" sound like in "on."
Dactylion is a noun that refers to a specific anatomical term pertaining to the body's structure. Derived from the Greek word daktylion meaning "finger," it primarily refers to the tip or topmost aspect of the fingers or toes on a person's hand or foot. More specifically, it is often used to denote the highest point where the middle phalanges of each digit merge with the proximal phalanges, resembling a knuckle joint. In this context, it can be seen as the most distal part of the digit, located just before the fingernail or toenail.
This term is particularly relevant when considering anthropometric measurements, where body proportions are analyzed in relation to hands and feet. The dactylion is used as a standard reference point to measure the length of the fingers or toes, especially in medical, anthropological, or forensic studies. It is usually quantified as the distance from the dactylion to the palm or sole, providing crucial information on the skeletal structure and the relative proportions of the hand or foot.
Additionally, the term dactylion can also be used metaphorically to describe the highest or most prominent point of something, similar to the peak or apex. This usage derives from the physical prominence of the dactylion on the fingers or toes, and is often employed in figurative language to describe the culmination or climax of an event, story, or achievement.
The presence of adhesions, either congenital or acquired, between two or more fingers; dactylosymphysis, syndactyly, syndactylism.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
The word "dactylion" originates from the Greek word "daktýlion", which means "finger" or "toe". It is derived from the Greek word "dáktylos", which also means "finger" or "toe". The suffix "-ion" is often added to Greek words to indicate a diminutive or small size. Therefore, "dactylion" can be understood to mean "little finger" or "small toe" in its etymology.