Little finger

Thelittle fingerorpinkie, also known as thebaby finger,fifth digit, orpinky finger, is the mostulnarand smallestdigitof the humanhand, and next to thering finger.
The word "pinkie" is derived from theDutchwordpink, meaning "little finger".
The earliest recorded use of the term "pinkie" is fromScotlandin 1808.The term (sometimes spelled "pinky") is common inScottish EnglishandAmerican English,and is also used extensively in other Commonwealth countries such as New Zealand, Canada, and Australia.
There are nine muscles that control the fifth digit:
Three in thehypothenar eminence, two extrinsic flexors, two extrinsic extensors, and two more intrinsic muscles:
Note: thedorsal interossei of the handmuscles do not have an attachment to the fifth digit
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.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).
Other gestures where the little finger is extended include theshaka signandsign of the horns.
Among members of theJapaneseyakuza(gangsters), the penalty for various offenses is removal of parts of the little finger (known asyubitsume).
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,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.
The messaging application Teams from Microsofthas an emoji which is a representation of a closed hand with the little finger raised. The description is "Nature's call" which is a polite euphemism used when someone feels a need to urinate or defecate.
Thesignet ringis 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.
TheIron Ringis a symbolic ring worn by mostCanadian engineers. The Ring is a symbol of both pride and humility for the engineering profession, and is always worn on the little finger of thedominant hand. In theUnited States, theEngineer's Ringis astainless steelring worn on the fifth digit of the working hand by engineers who belong to theOrder of the Engineerand have accepted the Obligation of an Engineer.
The little finger is often used as a support whensmartphoneusers 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.
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.