Skip to main content
Glite Dictionary
hammertoe

hammertoe

2 8.4
A toe that is bent downward at the middle joint and often causes pain when walking
  • noun
  • /ˈhæmərˌtoʊ/
  • Specialized
: dedo en martillo
  • Wearing shoes that fit properly can help alleviate the pain of a hammertoe.
  • hammertoes and toes
  • hammertoes and toe cramps
  • people with hammertoes

Examples

  • "hammertoe, the shanks, low sperm count,

    Blue Collar Comedy Tour Rides Again (2004)

  • From bunions to hammertoes to flat feet, deformities of the foot can be inherited from genes or things in your life.

    Blog text (7)

  • Toe deformities often get blamed on wearing shoes that are too tight or too small, which can be the case in hammertoes and mallet toes.

    Blog text (7)

  • Other foot anomalies observed on examination are noted as possible risk factors for falls; they include hammertoe, deformities, or pain that could result in an abnormal gait.

    Academic text (2008)

  • Many people with a hammertoe experience discomfort when walking.

  • My doctor said that my hammertoe could be fixed with surgery.

Surface Forms

hammertoe singular
hammertoes plural

Morphology

hammertoe = hammer + toe (semi-transparent) = hammer + toe

The compound 'hammer' + 'toe' evokes the shape of the bent toe, but the specific medical sense (a permanent deformity) is a specialized meaning not fully predictable by simple compounding.

Etymology

Hammertoe comes from the two simple words hammer and toe, because the toe bends at the middle joint and looks like the head of a 'hammer'. So a hammertoe is a toe that is stuck in a bent, hammer-like position and often makes walking painful.