"The first, the thumb, pollex, is so called because it surpasses, pollere, the others in strength and power.
"The second finger, index, is also known as salutaris or demonstratorius, the greeting or indicating finger, because we generally use it in greeting, showing or pointing.
"The third finger is called impudicus, lewd; it is frequently used to express the pursuit of something shameful.
"The fourth is the ring finger, anularis, because it is the on which a ring is worn.
"The fifth finger is called auricularis, because we scrape our ear, auris, with it."
Well, for some reason, the science folk started the numbering at the other end. But, thanks for your post...very interesting.