fine-fingered
|fine-fin-gered|
🇺🇸
/ˌfaɪnˈfɪŋɡərd/
🇬🇧
/ˌfaɪnˈfɪŋɡəd/
skilled with the fingers
Etymology
'fine-fingered' is a modern English compound formed from 'fine' (adjective) + past-participial adjective 'fingered' (from 'finger'), where 'fine' came to mean 'delicate' or 'excellent' and 'fingered' denotes relation to the fingers.
'fine' entered Middle English from Old French 'fin' (from Latin 'finis'), taking senses related to 'refined' or 'delicate'; 'fingered' comes from Old English 'finger' (from Proto-Germanic '*fingraz'), and the compound 'fine-fingered' developed in modern English by combining the two elements.
Initially the separate elements conveyed 'refined/delicate' (fine) and 'pertaining to the finger' (fingered); together they evolved to mean 'having delicate or skillful fingers' and, by extension in informal usage, 'skilled at petty theft' in some contexts.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Adjective 1
having very skillful, delicate, or nimble fingers; dexterous, especially in playing instruments or performing detailed manual work.
The fine-fingered violinist coaxed a haunting tone from the instrument.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Adjective 2
(informal/pejorative) Having nimble fingers used for petty theft or sleight of hand; light-fingered.
He was known to be fine-fingered, and wallets often went missing in crowded trains.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Last updated: 2025/09/11 16:40