Thelittle finger orpinkie, also known as thebaby finger,fifth digit, orpinky finger, is the mostulnar and smallestdigit of the humanhand, and next to thering finger.
The word "pinky" is derived from theDutch wordpink, meaning "little finger".
The earliest recorded use of the term "pinkie" is fromScotland in 1808.[1] The term (sometimes spelled "pinky") is common inScottish English[2] andAmerican English,[3] and is also used extensively in other Commonwealth countries such as New Zealand, Canada, and Australia.[4][5]
There are nine muscles that control the fifth digit:Three in thehypothenar eminence, two extrinsic flexors, two extrinsic extensors, and two more intrinsic muscles:
Among American children, a "pinky swear" or "pinky promise" is made when a person wraps one of their pinky fingers around another person's pinky and makes apromise.[6] Something similar is also seen in China and Korea, where people link their pinky fingers and then stamp their thumbs together to make ayaksok (promise).
Among members of theJapaneseyakuza (gangsters), the penalty for various offenses is removal of parts of the little finger (known asyubitsume).[7]
It is a common joke that one should extend their little finger when drinking from a teacup in imitation of a passé upper-class tradition. This practice is generally deprecated by etiquette guides as a sign of snobbery amongst the socially inferior,[8][9] with various cultural theories as to the origin of the practice including the idea that finger food should be eaten with only the first three digits.[10]
Signet ring (little finger) and wedding ring (ring finger) on a left hand
Thesignet ring is traditionally worn on the little finger of a gentleman's left hand, a practice still common especially in theUnited Kingdom,Australia, and European cultures. A signet ring is considered part of the regalia of many European monarchies, and also of the Pope, with the ring always worn on the left little finger. In modern times the location of the signet ring has relaxed, with examples worn on various different digits, although little fingers still tend to be the most usual.
The little finger is often used as a support whensmartphone users type one-handed. The little finger is positioned underneath the phone, allowing it to be propped with the three middle fingers, and the user to type with their thumb.[13]
Some users reported dents on their little finger and pain in the hand after prolonged use in this way, doctors referred to this as "iPhone pinky" or "smartphone pinky". The skin indentations were reported to be nothing of alarm, as they disappeared on their own after a short while without cell phone use.[13][14]
