fingernailful

English

Etymology

fingernail +‎ -ful

Noun

fingernailful (plural not attested)

1. (rare) Enough to be stored under one's fingernail.
   • 1952, Meredith Willson, Who did what to Fedalia?, page 27:

     He hurried up the back stairs with the hot water, scooping up a fingernailful of frost off the window in the back hall where there wasn't any register.

   • 1987, William Diehl, Thai horse, page 307:

     He scraped up a fingernailful and, holding it to a nostril, slowly inhaled it. He waited for another minute or two for it to take effect, then he scraped up another fingernailful and put it in his mouth and tasted it.

   • 2011, Stella Duffy, Singling Out The Couples

     Timing in the offered fingernailful of cocaine, well cut and loose dropped into the hollow between my collarbones.