high-heel
UK[ˌhaɪ ˈhiːl]US[ˌhaɪ ˈhiːl]
n
A shoe with a tall, thin heel, typically worn by women.
adj
(attributive) Describing a shoe that has a tall, thin heel.
Morpheme Breakdown
high
heel
high
elevated
heel
back part of a foot or shoe
Etymology
The compound 'high-heel' is a transparent English formation, directly combining two native Germanic words. 'High' originates from the Old English hēah, meaning "of great vertical extent," a concept with ancient Proto-Indo-European roots related to loftiness. 'Heel' comes from Old English hēla, referring to the back part of the human foot. The logic of the compound is purely descriptive, emerging in the early 18th century to denote a shoe where the rear section is built up to a significant height, elevating the wearer's foot. This literal combination of 'high' and 'heel' efficiently names the object by its most visually prominent and defining characteristic.
Analysis
Structure: high (elevated) + heel (back part of a foot or shoe)
high: From Old English hēah, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch hoog and German hoch. In this compound, it functions as an adjective describing the quality of the heel.
heel: From Old English hēla, hǣla, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch hiel and German Ferse. In this compound, it functions as a noun denoting the part of the shoe.
Examples
She struggled to walk gracefully in her new high-heels.
The dress code recommends avoiding high-heel shoes for the outdoor event.
A classic high-heel pump is a staple in many professional wardrobes.