heel \heel\, n. oe. hele, heele, as. h=ela, perh. for
   h=ohila, fr. as. h=oh heel cf. hough; but cf. d.
   hiel, ofries. heila, h=ela, icel. haell, dan. hael, sw.
   hauml, and l. calx. root12. cf. inculcate.
   1. the hinder part of the foot; sometimes, the whole foot; --
      in man or quadrupeds.
      1913 webster

            he the stag calls to mind his strength and then
            his speed,
            his winged heels and then his armed head. --denham.
      1913 webster

   2. the hinder part of any covering for the foot, as of a
      shoe, sock, etc.; specif., a solid part projecting
      downward from the hinder part of the sole of a boot or
      shoe.
      1913 webster

   3. the latter or remaining part of anything; the closing or
      concluding part. "the heel of a hunt." --a. trollope. "the
      heel of the white loaf." --sir w. scott.
      1913 webster

   4. anything regarded as like a human heel in shape; a
      protuberance; a knob.
      1913 webster

   5. the part of a thing corresponding in position to the human
      heel; the lower part, or part on which a thing rests;
      especially:
      a naut. the after end of a ship's keel.
      b naut. the lower end of a mast, a boom, the bowsprit,
          the sternpost, etc.
      c mil. in a small arm, the corner of the but which is
          upwards in the firing position.
      d mil. the uppermost part of the blade of a sword,
          next to the hilt.
      e the part of any tool next the tang or handle; as, the
          heel of a scythe.
          1913 webster

   6. man. management by the heel, especially the spurred
      heel; as, the horse understands the heel well.
      1913 webster

   7. arch.
      a the lower end of a timber in a frame, as a post or
          rafter. in the united states, specif., the obtuse
          angle of the lower end of a rafter set sloping.
      b a cyma reversa; -- so called by workmen. --gwilt.
          1913 webster

   8. golf the part of the face of the club head nearest the
      shaft.
      webster 1913 suppl.

   9. in a carding machine, the part of a flat nearest the
      cylinder.
      webster 1913 suppl.

   heel chain naut., a chain passing from the bowsprit cap
      around the heel of the jib boom.

   heel plate, the butt plate of a gun.

   heel of a rafter. arch. see heel, n., 7.

   heel ring, a ring for fastening a scythe blade to the
      snath.

   neck and heels, the whole body. colloq.

   to be at the heels of, to pursue closely; to follow hard;
      as, hungry want is at my heels. --otway.

   to be down at the heel, to be slovenly or in a poor plight.
      

   to be out at the heels, to have on stockings that are worn
      out; hence, to be shabby, or in a poor plight. --shak.

   to cool the heels. see under cool.

   to go heels over head, to turn over so as to bring the
      heels uppermost; hence, to move in a inconsiderate, or
      rash, manner.

   to have the heels of, to outrun.

   to lay by the heels, to fetter; to shackle; to imprison.
      --shak. --addison.

   to show the heels, to flee; to run from.

   to take to the heels, to flee; to betake to flight.

   to throw up another's heels, to trip him. --bunyan.

   to tread upon one's heels, to follow closely. --shak.
      1913 webster
see also:
hough inculcate heel chain heel plate heel of a rafter heel 
heel ring neck and heels to be at the heels of to be down at the heel to be out at the heels 
to cool the heels cool to go heels over head to have the heels of to lay by the heels 
to show the heels to take to the heels to throw up another's heels to tread upon one's heels