nail
/neɪl/
Frequency: Zipf frequency 4.21 in modern English
Meaning
noun
The horny plate or appendage at the ends of the digits of various animals, including most reptiles, birds, and mammals (both nonhuman and human).
noun
The horny plate or appendage at the ends of the digits of various animals, including most reptiles, birds, and mammals (both nonhuman and human).
noun
A spike-shaped metal fastener used for joining wood or similar materials. The nail is generally driven through two or more layers of material by means of impacts from a hammer or other device. It is then held in place by friction.
noun
A round pedestal on which merchants once carried out their business, such as the four nails outside The Exchange, Bristol.
Example Sentences
- "When I'm nervous I bite my nails."
- "Yesterday my shirt got torn after I caught it on a nail."
- "Orion hit a rabbit once; but though sore wounded it got to the bury, and, struggling in, the arrow caught the side of the hole and was drawn out. Indeed, a nail filed sharp is not of much avail as an arrowhead; you must have it barbed, and that was a little beyond our skill."
- "He nailed the placard to the post."
- "He used the ax head for nailing."
- "The rivets of their arms were nail'd with gold."
Etymology
Origin
Word Breakdown
- Root: *h₃negʰ-, nail, næġl, *nagl, *naglaz, *h₃nogʰ-
Usage
Subject
Wiktionary places this term in Medicine.