nijdnagel

Dutch

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈnɛi̯tˌnaː.ɣəl/
• Hyphenation: nijd‧na‧gel

Etymology 1

Probably from nijpnagel. Likely changed through folk etymology after nijd (“envy”) +‎ nagel (“nail”); reportedly a superstition existed in early modern Europe that hangnails were caused by other people's envy. Cf. German Niednagel and French envie; also see English hangnail, which also underwent folk-etymological modification.

Noun

nijdnagel m (plural nijdnagels)

1. A hangnail, an agnail.

   Synonym: dwangnagel

Alternative forms

• nijnagel

Etymology 2

Compound of nijden +‎ nagel. The meaning of the first element is not entirely certain, but it is related to Middle Dutch niden and niten.

Noun

nijdnagel m (plural nijdnagels)

1. (dated, rare) A rivet.
   • 1892, Leonard Lodewijk de Bo, Westvlaamsch idioticon, volume 2, page 743:

     De scharnieren van eene doos, enz. bestaan uit pijpkens en nijdnagels.

     (please add an English translation of this quotation)

   • 1902, Alfons Van Houcke, Vak- & kunstwoorden. No. 6, Ambacht van den loodgieter & zinkbewerker, vol. 2, publ. by A. Siffer, page 504.

     Den nijdnagel wordt ofwel platte (Sch. 409), of een afgeschuinde (Sch. 410), òf een halfbolronde kop (Sch. 411) geslagen.

     (please add an English translation of this quotation)

   Synonym: klinknagel