hammer-toe

A person's hammer-toe is visible as they try on a new shoe.

Definition

Noun: A condition in which a toe (typically the second toe) is permanently bent at the middle joint, resembling a hammer. This is often caused by wearing ill-fitting shoes or muscle imbalance.

Usage Examples

• (A permanently bent toe.)
• (Medical treatment for the condition.)

Advanced Usage

• "hammer-toe deformity": The medical term for the structural abnormality.
  • The patient was diagnosed with a hammer-toe deformity in both feet. (A specific type of toe misalignment.)

Variants and Related Words

• Hammer-toed (adj): having a hammer-toe.
  • The hammer-toed patient found it difficult to walk comfortably. (Affected by the condition.)

Synonyms

• Claw toe: a similar condition where the toe curls downward at the middle joint and upward at the tip.
• Mallet toe: a condition where only the joint near the toenail is bent.

Related Idioms