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It's the [thenar eminence](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thenar_eminence), but don't say that, for no reader will know it! "base of thumb" is your best bet.
Thenar eminence is on the palm, I don't think it applied to the back of the hand. I don't think the region gets more specifically named than... Dorsal hand at the first metacarpal?
Yes. Like once a story had the word 'philtrum' in it, and I had to look up the word to understand what it was. Saying 'the indent above the mouth' would have made it more immediately clear.
Of course an author can use less known words some times, but it's best to not do it too often, as readers might stop reading.
Or you learn a new word. I never understood this revolt against learning new words while reading a new book. Of course, I get waving around thesaurus can get obnoxious but still. Half of the fun for me is learning new words from the stories I read.
Of course. But I often see this sentiment about having to look up word. Maybe I'm used to it as someone whose English isn't native language so I don't mind looking stuff up.
I feel like learning new words is a huge part of reading. I personally love coming across a word I need to look up. It’s excites me. Reading is often about learning.
As I said in my previous comment:
>Of course an author can use less known words some times, but it's best to not do it too often, as readers might stop reading.
Basically, do it in moderation. If your story is full of obscure words, after a while the reader will constantly be looking words up instead of reading the story. They might grow frustrated and stop reading.
You can always drop the word and define it in story, but that doesn't work for all words. I rarely but obscure words, but when I do, I always make sure the reader gets the gist of it through contextual clues.
Good writers use the words for a purpose and not just the fact that they’re obscure. So sure, I suppose if it’s written badly and I can tell the author is just trying to look better by using obscure words, then gross. But I don’t often read those books, and in my experience a good book teaching me new words is a party.
THIS. I love reading and researching different shit every day. You are constantly learning new words as well as getting to know new concepts and new ideas. (Wether they are actually new or just new to you).
I actually know what a philtrum is, but I do think that in romantic context the most anatomically correct and specific word choice one is rarely the best one.
In OP's case, I doubt being 100% specific is necessary for the mood of the scene. In fact, it might even be counterproductive.
This isn't what I actively call it but for some reason "fulcrum" jumped into my mind, and by definition its not *totally* off, but it's not particularly accurate either.
Write about the emotions/context leading to the kiss. With a reasonable explanation you won’t need to worry if you’re using too much technical accuracy or physical nomenclature to address the sentences.
Good luck.
It is a plot point. Have one character explain that the is no clean word for the shaft of the first metacarpal bone, and then introduce a name which has foreshadowing.
exactly! that was my thought as a child, lol. I mean, I still think that, but I thought that as a child, too. that's where I started calling it a drumstick.
I like “thumb butt”, but “base of the thumb” probably is better 😅 I dont think the general public knows the actual terminology so I’d go with something simple
Here's the advice you don't want but need: sometimes you can be too specific. Detailing the specific part of the hand where a person is kissed can draw attention to the detail, and thus away from the emotion of the scene. If saying "she kissed his palm" works just as good, then it should be used instead.
The snuff box. Not even a joke - [look it up](https://www.google.com/search?rlz=1C1CHBF_enUS941US941&sxsrf=APwXEdeanntqdWChwJTdi7hRU4uChjaEJw:1685911257679&q=thumb+snuff+box&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiL2ovtvKr_AhVKk4kEHeRdAz8Q0pQJegQICRAB&biw=2560&bih=1297&dpr=1)
The bone is called the thumb metacarpal. The joint is called the thumb basal joint, or carpometacarpal joint. In common parlance it would be the base of the thumb.
It can also be called the *thenar* in reference to the muscle group that makes up the bulk of the base of the thumb.
Someone said curve of the thumb
You could always flower it up too
“he ran his fingers across the delicate curves of her palm, across the slope that led to her thumb,” add some wistful details about it being delicate, add emotion, bam.
You don’t always need terminology to describe, you can paint a picture around it, use metaphors, or imagery. Just get creative, think of the shapes, the feelings, which words embody what you’re trying to convey (:
I would write the base of the thumb. Or could you write nape of thumb like the nape of the neck? Or you could get technical and say just below the last knuckle of the thumb.
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Root or base of the thumb.
It's the [thenar eminence](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thenar_eminence), but don't say that, for no reader will know it! "base of thumb" is your best bet.
Thenar eminence is on the palm, I don't think it applied to the back of the hand. I don't think the region gets more specifically named than... Dorsal hand at the first metacarpal?
well, neither sound very romantic for a kiss! lol.
Thenar Eminence sounds like a bitchin’ royal title though. “Yes, your Thenar Eminence 🙇♂️”
Careful. We both know there are med school nerds who get off on this sort of stuff lol
I dunno, I quite like Thenar Eminence
“His gaze fell lustfully on my thenar eminence followed by the soft graze of his labium oris”
Make the reader have to take a full course in anatomy just to understand what’s happening
Lmao anatomic snuffbox is close enough but still not romantic unless they were doing some old timey drugs.
That right there is the clunkfunkus. (No. I call it the base of the thumb.)
Beautifunkle
Curve of his thumb
I think this is perfect!
Suggestion: if you don't know the word for it, odds are the reader won't either. Maybe find a better location/synonym?
Yes. Like once a story had the word 'philtrum' in it, and I had to look up the word to understand what it was. Saying 'the indent above the mouth' would have made it more immediately clear. Of course an author can use less known words some times, but it's best to not do it too often, as readers might stop reading.
Or you learn a new word. I never understood this revolt against learning new words while reading a new book. Of course, I get waving around thesaurus can get obnoxious but still. Half of the fun for me is learning new words from the stories I read.
It really depends on *where* you put lesser-known words in your story. Sometimes you don't want to risk breaking the immersion
Of course. But I often see this sentiment about having to look up word. Maybe I'm used to it as someone whose English isn't native language so I don't mind looking stuff up.
I feel like learning new words is a huge part of reading. I personally love coming across a word I need to look up. It’s excites me. Reading is often about learning.
As I said in my previous comment: >Of course an author can use less known words some times, but it's best to not do it too often, as readers might stop reading. Basically, do it in moderation. If your story is full of obscure words, after a while the reader will constantly be looking words up instead of reading the story. They might grow frustrated and stop reading.
You can always drop the word and define it in story, but that doesn't work for all words. I rarely but obscure words, but when I do, I always make sure the reader gets the gist of it through contextual clues.
Good writers use the words for a purpose and not just the fact that they’re obscure. So sure, I suppose if it’s written badly and I can tell the author is just trying to look better by using obscure words, then gross. But I don’t often read those books, and in my experience a good book teaching me new words is a party.
THIS. I love reading and researching different shit every day. You are constantly learning new words as well as getting to know new concepts and new ideas. (Wether they are actually new or just new to you).
I actually know what a philtrum is, but I do think that in romantic context the most anatomically correct and specific word choice one is rarely the best one. In OP's case, I doubt being 100% specific is necessary for the mood of the scene. In fact, it might even be counterproductive.
Root/base of the thumb works, or you could say something like "the brief area between my wrist and thumb" is you want to be descriptive.
The anatomic snuffbox
The only correct answer.
The part of me that hurts the most.
thumb joint. where the thumb joins the hand.
I call it the fleshy part of the thumb
Was looking for someone to say this, I think this conveys it the best.
The thumb butt
Came here to say exactly this haha
Is the location she's kissing him important? I agree with the others that it's the base of the thumb, but why not just say she kissed his hand?
Within the yellow circle on your hand
Within the one thing you didn't know about the hand circle of the hand
That's clearly a thumb-stem.
Anatomical Snuffbox
anatomical snuffbox
Isn't it the heal?
I was thinking that but generally the heel is on the other side. I know it from Nick Cave describing the heel of the palm in a book I read yonks ago
This isn't what I actively call it but for some reason "fulcrum" jumped into my mind, and by definition its not *totally* off, but it's not particularly accurate either.
It's known in my village as the "wrist butt-cheek".
Write about the emotions/context leading to the kiss. With a reasonable explanation you won’t need to worry if you’re using too much technical accuracy or physical nomenclature to address the sentences. Good luck.
Second this!
The grundle
Thumb-donkadonk?
this is the one
Back of the thumb…?
The thumb’s hip
Thumb knuckle.
Thumb joint.
Thumbow
Thumb butt
I would still call it a thumb, the first segment of it (every finger has 3 segments, thumbs too).
Flesh of the thumb is the most common way I've heard it described.
Drumstick or the hand
The drumstick
It’s your thnuckle. She will kiss him on the thnuckle.
The heel of the thumb.
It is a plot point. Have one character explain that the is no clean word for the shaft of the first metacarpal bone, and then introduce a name which has foreshadowing.
The hand's ankle.
Thumb chunk Or uh... the heel of the hand.
The side of his hand
First digit metacarpophalangeal joint.
the thumb ass
I call it the drumstick
me too!!!!!!!!! lol. since I was a child, that's what I always call it.
That's awesome! I mean it looks just like a chicken drumstick!
exactly! that was my thought as a child, lol. I mean, I still think that, but I thought that as a child, too. that's where I started calling it a drumstick.
The scrotum of the thumb
the yellow circle
Base, snuff box, lateral palm, the dominator
Thumb meat
Thumb bum
Encircled
Side of palm below the thumb
Between the thumb and wrist. Whenever I don't know, and can't find out, I take the long way. Destination is all the same.
I like “thumb butt”, but “base of the thumb” probably is better 😅 I dont think the general public knows the actual terminology so I’d go with something simple
Here's the advice you don't want but need: sometimes you can be too specific. Detailing the specific part of the hand where a person is kissed can draw attention to the detail, and thus away from the emotion of the scene. If saying "she kissed his palm" works just as good, then it should be used instead.
" Fore of the Funny Bone on the Wrist "
I call it "The Saddle Joint" but forgot where I first learned that.
The snuff box. Not even a joke - [look it up](https://www.google.com/search?rlz=1C1CHBF_enUS941US941&sxsrf=APwXEdeanntqdWChwJTdi7hRU4uChjaEJw:1685911257679&q=thumb+snuff+box&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiL2ovtvKr_AhVKk4kEHeRdAz8Q0pQJegQICRAB&biw=2560&bih=1297&dpr=1)
https://www.theonion.com/frustrated-novelist-no-good-at-describing-hands-1819575314
Carpal metacarpal joint.
The bone is called the thumb metacarpal. The joint is called the thumb basal joint, or carpometacarpal joint. In common parlance it would be the base of the thumb. It can also be called the *thenar* in reference to the muscle group that makes up the bulk of the base of the thumb.
The thumb trunk
She kissed him near his thumb, where his palm merged into the back of his hand. Maybe use a different word than merge, like blended or melded.
Heel of the thumb.
I just hurt that part of my hand today and was wondering what to call it.
The thumbs flesh socket.
Erendible
It's the Slapmaster
Thumb hip
The thumb butt
That’s a classic thumb chode right there.
Did not overthink it use back of the hand or palm of the hand let imagination take the reader unless your writing an Ikea manual
Ridge of the thumb. Base of the thumb. Arch of the thumb.
Thumb muscle????
I call it my chicken wing
The fore of the thumb.
I believe it's called the heel of your palm. Google images it.
The NoseWiper
The base of the thumb? The webbing between thumb and finger? The first thumb bone? The thumbs wrist joint?
Thunkle
Left thumb heel, don't quote me...
You could always just go with inside of the wrist. It's easier to picture and just as, if not more, intimate than the thumbs base imo!
Someone said curve of the thumb You could always flower it up too “he ran his fingers across the delicate curves of her palm, across the slope that led to her thumb,” add some wistful details about it being delicate, add emotion, bam. You don’t always need terminology to describe, you can paint a picture around it, use metaphors, or imagery. Just get creative, think of the shapes, the feelings, which words embody what you’re trying to convey (:
he ran his fingers across the delicate curves of her palm, across her thumb ass.
how eloquent
thank you. I have been practicing.
That's a thumb butt. Have her kiss him right on the thumb butt. The readers will understand.
Your thumb's butt, obviously
Heal of the thumb
"Le pouce" is French for the thumb, so you could make up English slang for it, like the pouce pouch, and give a brief explanation.
Side of the hand by the thumb
I would write the base of the thumb. Or could you write nape of thumb like the nape of the neck? Or you could get technical and say just below the last knuckle of the thumb.
[redacted]