nail

Definition from Wiktionary, a free dictionary

Contents 1 English 1.1 Pronunciation 1.2 Etymology 1 1.2.1 Noun 1.2.1.1 Derived terms 1.2.1.2 Translations 1.2.1.3 See also 1.3 Etymology 2 1.3.1 Verb 1.3.1.1 Synonyms 1.3.1.2 Translations 1.4 See also

[edit] English

[edit] Pronunciation

• IPA: /neɪl/
•  Audio (US)^{help, file}
• Rhymes: -eɪl

[edit] Etymology 1

Old English næġel, from Proto-Germanic *nagalaz, from Proto-Indo-European base *(o)nogʰ ‘nail’. Cognate with Dutch nagel, German Nagel, Swedish nagel; and (from Indo-European) with Greek ὄνυξ, Latin unguis, Russian ноготь, Breton ivin.

[edit] Noun

nail (plural nails)

1. The thin, horny plate at the ends of fingers and toes on humans and some other animals.
2. 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.
3. One of the four round pedestals (the nails) in Bristol.
4. An archaic English unit of length equivalent to 1/16th of a yard (2.25 inches).

[edit] Derived terms

[edit] Translations

[edit] See also

• claw
• talon

[edit] Etymology 2

From Old English næġlan

[edit] Verb

to nail (third-person singular simple present nails, present participle nailing, simple past and past participle nailed)

1. (transitive) To fix (an object) to another object using a nail.

   He nailed the placard to the post.

2. (intransitive) To drive a nail.

   He used the ax head for nailing.

3. (slang) To catch.
   • 2005, Plato, Sophist. Translation by Lesley Brown. 261a.

     we'll nail the sophist to it, if we can get him on that charge;

4. (transitive, slang) To expose as a sham.
5. (transitive, slang) To accomplish (a task) completely and successfully.

   I really nailed that test.

6. (transitive, slang) To hit (a target) effectively with some weapon.
7. (transitive, slang) Of a male, to engage in sexual intercourse with.

   There’s a benefit gala at the Boston Pops tonight, and... well, I’m trying to nail the flautist. - Brian Griffin in the TV series Family Guy

[edit] Synonyms

• (to engage in sexual intercourse): bang, screw, fuck, shag (British)

[edit] Translations

[edit] See also

• Wikipedia disambiguation page on both meanings of nail
• Wikipedia disambiguation page on spike
• Nail in the 1911 Encyclopædia Britannica.