Crookfingered

/ˈkrʊkˌfɪŋɡɚd/ adjective

Definition

Having fingers that are bent, curved, or not straight, often appearing claw-like or gnarled.

Etymology

Compound of 'crook' (to bend or curve) and 'fingered' (having fingers), combining two Old English elements to describe a physical characteristic of the hands.

Kelly Says

Medieval and early modern literature used 'crookfingered' as a telltale sign of villainy or witchcraft, which tells us that physical differences once signaled moral judgments—language reveals how our ancestors' prejudices were baked into descriptions of human appearance.

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