拇指 or 拇趾?

[klortho]

I've seen a couple of dictionaries that give the definition of 拇指 as "thumb; big toe", but shouldn't "big toe" be 拇趾? Am I being too anal-retentive here?

[HashiriKata]

My guess is both are ok.

Tell me, what does "anal-retentive" mean?

[againstwind]

According to 现代汉语词典(2002 edition), 指 is finger; 趾 is toe. But it's strange that there is the word 拇指, which means 'thumb or big toe', in the dictionary, while the word '拇趾' doesn't exist.

Meanwhile We do have the word 脚趾. Most people also think our big toe should be '拇趾'. It may be a misusage like what grammarians often complain.

[klortho]

Thanks, that's kind of what I thought. If you google "拇趾" you get a lot of hits, so I guess I'll use this one anytime I need to write "big toe".

Anal retentive is a great word: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anal_retentive

[HashiriKata]

I believe originally there was just one "mǔzhǐ" for both thumb and big toe, then someone must have thought it's a good idea to differentiate them via 拇指 and 拇趾. (cf. 他/她/它)

Anal retentive is a great word

True, anything to do with Freud always gets me excited!