heel bracen.
/ˈhiːl breɪs/, U.S. /ˈhil ˌbreɪs/ΚΠ
1829 Times 19 Jan. 5/6 Captain Hendry..has invented an ingenious piece of iron-work, which he terms a heel-brace, and which is applicable to the lower part of ships' rudders, in case the lower pintles are broken.
1918 F. F. Pease Mod. Shipbuilding Terms 43/1 Heel brace, the bottom rudder brace.
1919 N.Y. Times 3 July 3/1 The heel brace on the rudder was carried away, making it impossible to steer the craft.
2. A metal device which reinforces the heel of a shoe, keeping it straight and preventing it from separating from the upper, typically in the form of a bracket attached to the shoe's sole.
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the world > textiles and clothing > clothing > types or styles of clothing > footwear > parts of footwear > [noun] > heel > parts of
lift1677
heeltap1688
heel piece1841
top lift1842
heel lift1844
heel brace1859
heel breast1873
riser1928
1859 Trans. N.Y. State Agric. Soc. 1858 18 759 Metalic [sic] heel brace for boots.
1883 Evening Gaz. (Monmouth, Illinois) 24 Sept. 1/4 He had on a pair of kip boots, having a heel-brace on the heel of the left boot.
1936 Paris (Texas) News 11 Aug. 7/1 (advt.) You don't have to have a heel brace put under your heels to keep them from running under if we do the job.
1952 Portsmouth (Ohio) Times 30 Jan. 3/5 (advt.) Heel braces—brace high heels.., straighten shoes that are turned or sprung at the heel.
2005 Sunday Tel. Mag. (Sydney) (Nexis) 17 Apr. 46 These [shoes] were a gift from the legendary tap dancer Ann Miller... They're handmade and have the same heel brace and taps Ann wore.
3. Any of various devices which provide a support for the heel of the foot.
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the world > health and disease > healing > medical appliances or equipment > surgical supports > [noun] > appliances for foot
toe-plate1894
heel brace1899
arch support1939
1899 Davenport (Iowa) Daily Republican 19 Dec. 2/6 (advt.) Girls' all steel skates with leather heel brace.
1922 Forest & Stream Feb. 63/2 The superstructure in each..[kind of ice-creeper]..is a sole of heavy belt leather surmounted by a heel brace and cross-straps of welt leather.
1946 Newark (Ohio) Advocate & Amer. Tribune 3 Oct. 1/7 Williams, who wore a heel brace and used a cane to walk, testified his injury prevented his obtaining employment.
1995 Amer. Jrnl. Human Biol. 8 32/2 The subject was seated..with the lower leg exactly perpendicular to the foot plate, the heel firmly in contact with the heel brace.
2015 Calgary (Alberta) Herald (Nexis) 17 Jan. c1 Large foot pads with heel braces are positioned atop pedals and come with straps to secure feet, making it easier to pedal.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2017; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.1829