Dictionary

nail en · NOUN · etymology 1

Pronunciation

• nāl
• (US) audio
• [neɪ̯ɫ]
• /neɪl/

Etymology

From Middle English nail, nayl, Old English næġl, from Proto-West Germanic *nagl, from Proto-Germanic *naglaz, from Proto-Indo-European *h₃nogʰ- (“nail”). Cognates Compare North Frisian Nail (“nail”), Saterland Frisian Nail (“nail”), West Frisian neil, German and Low German Nagel, Dutch and Swedish nagel, Danish and Norwegian Bokmål negl, Norwegian Nynorsk nagl, Finnish naula (“nail”), Estonian nael (“nail”), (compare Irish ionga, Latin unguis, Albanian nyell (“ankle, hard part of a limb”), Lithuanian nagas, Russian нога́ (nogá, “foot, leg”), но́готь (nógotʹ, “nail”), Ancient Greek ὄνυξ (ónux), Persian ناخن (nâxon), Sanskrit नख (nakhá).

Meanings

1. The horny plate or appendage at the ends of the digits of various animals, including most reptiles, birds, and mammals (both nonhuman and human).
2. (often, specifically) The horny plate or appendage at the ends of the digits of various animals, including most reptiles, birds, and mammals (both nonhuman and human). ▸ The thin, flat type of such a plate on the fingers and toes of humans, chimpanzees and some other primates.
   • When I'm nervous I bite my nails.
3. The basal thickened portion of the anterior wings of certain hemiptera.
4. The terminal horny plate on the beak of ducks and other allied birds.
5. 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.
   • 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. 1879, R[ichard] J[efferies], chapter II, in The Amateur Poacher, London: Smith, Elder, & Co., […], →OCLC:
6. A round pedestal on which merchants once carried out their business, such as the four nails outside The Exchange, Bristol.
7. An archaic English unit of length equivalent to ¹⁄₂₀ of an ell or ¹⁄₁₆ of a yard (2+¹⁄₄ inches or 5.715 cm).

Forms

Coordinates

claw

Deriveds

street nail · fourpenny nail · final nail in the coffin · nail plate · nail tech · nail in one's coffin · tooth and nail · bite one's nails · nail-patella syndrome · finger nail · nail scissors · doornail · rusty nail · toenail · naily · nailsmith · coke nail · nail varnish · cut nail · nail polish · on the nail · nail-biting · soil nail · tough as nails · nail-headed · twelve-penny nail · clout nail · screw nail · ten penny nail · four penny nail · nails on a chalkboard · eight-penny nail · dumb as nails · nail-polished · six penny nail · denail · nail-biter · hit the nail on the head · get down to brass nails · jolt head nail · spikenail · nail header · sixteen penny nail · renail · nailprint · tooth and nail syndrome · horsenail · hangnail · nail violin · gimp nail · nailwort · frost nail · misnail · another nail in the coffin · straw nail · chew on one's nails · door nail · nailset · nail bat · duplex nail · bed of nails · fingernail · horse-nail · PK nail · nail biter · nailfold · nail house · nailclipping · nail knot · common nail · nailery · twelvepenny nail · nail trimmer · nailbiting · casing nail · nailshop · twenty-nail dystrophy · sinker nail · nail lacquer · nail gun · nail biting · unnail · nail enamel · nail bed · eightpenny nail · nailful · one nail drives out another · handnail · nailfile · rother nail · spignel · yellow nail syndrome · eight penny nail · door-nail · sixpenny nail · clout-nail · green nail syndrome · the nail that sticks out gets hammered down · last nail in the coffin · tooth-and-nail · nail-tail wallaby · Smith-Petersen nail · sandpapered nails · mad enough to chew nails · hobnail · nailbiting · tenpenny nail · nailhead · nail set · sixteen-penny nail · nailbrush · drive a nail where it will go · lath nail · nailcare · another nail in someone's coffin · thumbnail · nail rod · nailfast · stub nail · nail ball · nailist · twelve penny nail · nailbed · coffin nail · naillike · bright nail · nail sickness · frost-nail · nail cutter · hand-nail · hard as nails · nail sick · nail bomb · nail fungus · rose nail · nail file · bullen-nail · sixteenpenny nail · nail technician · nailless · nail salon · squint like a bag of nails · nail-file · treenail · nailer · scupper nail · horseshoe nail · shell nail syndrome · six-penny nail · nail clipper · nail punch · nail-tailed wallaby · garden nail · roofing nail · brass nail · four-penny nail · nailproof · spit nails · finish nail · drive a nail in someone's coffin · nailable · ten-penny nail · nail-making · better than a poke in the eye with a rusty nail · footnail · nail puller · Küntscher nail · hard nail · nail bar

Relateds

claw · talon

Synonyms

unguis · onychium · unguis · onychium

Translations (491)

bn নখ (on fingers and toes) · af vingernael (on fingers and toes) · tg мех (spike-shaped metal fastener used for joining wood or similar materials) · nds Tengel (spike-shaped metal fastener used for joining wood or similar materials) · ba ҡаҙау (spike-shaped metal fastener used for joining wood or similar materials) · ltg nogs (on fingers and toes) · he מַסְמֵר (spike-shaped metal fastener used for joining wood or similar materials) · ace gukèë (on fingers and toes) · yai нахна (on fingers and toes) · yue 釘 /钉 (spike-shaped metal fastener used for joining wood or similar materials) · rhg nok (on fingers and toes) · sk klinec (spike-shaped metal fastener used for joining wood or similar materials) · ia clavo (spike-shaped metal fastener used for joining wood or similar materials) · grc ἧλος (spike-shaped metal fastener used for joining wood or similar materials) · sh ekser (spike-shaped metal fastener used for joining wood or similar materials) · br tach (spike-shaped metal fastener used for joining wood or similar materials) · fo negl (on fingers and toes) · eo ungo (on fingers and toes) · gv treiney (spike-shaped metal fastener used for joining wood or similar materials) · se spiikkár (spike-shaped metal fastener used for joining wood or similar materials) · ty maiʻuʻu (on fingers and toes) · yi טשוואָק (spike-shaped metal fastener used for joining wood or similar materials) · bdr keku (on fingers and toes) · tl kuko (on fingers and toes) · nl nagel (spike-shaped metal fastener used for joining wood or similar materials) · tpi kapa bilong pinga (on fingers and toes) · gu નખ (on fingers and toes) · fy spiker (spike-shaped metal fastener used for joining wood or similar materials) · tt тырнак (on fingers and toes) · fa میخ (spike-shaped metal fastener used for joining wood or similar materials) · rsk гвозд (spike-shaped metal fastener used for joining wood or similar materials) · pl paznokieć (on fingers and toes) · la clāvus (spike-shaped metal fastener used for joining wood or similar materials) · mk клинец (spike-shaped metal fastener used for joining wood or similar materials) · lo ເລັບມື (on fingers and toes) · bg гво́здей (spike-shaped metal fastener used for joining wood or similar materials) · kk тырнақ (on fingers and toes) · id paku (spike-shaped metal fastener used for joining wood or similar materials) · ki mũcumarĩ (spike-shaped metal fastener used for joining wood or similar materials) · tet pregu (spike-shaped metal fastener used for joining wood or similar materials) · orv ногъть (on fingers and toes) · es punta (spike-shaped metal fastener used for joining wood or similar materials) · ckb بزمار (spike-shaped metal fastener used for joining wood or similar materials) · dsb nokś (on fingers and toes) · is nagli (spike-shaped metal fastener used for joining wood or similar materials) · cy ewin (on fingers and toes) · gl betoque (spike-shaped metal fastener used for joining wood or similar materials) · lbe михь (on fingers and toes) · io klovo (spike-shaped metal fastener used for joining wood or similar materials) · sh ексер (spike-shaped metal fastener used for joining wood or similar materials) · nap ogna (on fingers and toes) · th ตะปู (spike-shaped metal fastener used for joining wood or similar materials) · alt тырмак (on fingers and toes) · rm ùngla (on fingers and toes) · sne sirun (on fingers and toes) · es estoperol (spike-shaped metal fastener used for joining wood or similar materials) · crh mıq (spike-shaped metal fastener used for joining wood or similar materials) · as নখ (on fingers and toes) · te గోరు (on fingers and toes) · vi móng tay (on fingers and toes) · az mıx (spike-shaped metal fastener used for joining wood or similar materials) · si ඇඟිලි (on fingers and toes) · lmo ongia (on fingers and toes) · egy a:n-t:D51 (on fingers and toes) · lo ເລັບຕີນ (on fingers and toes) · zza negu (on fingers and toes) · be гвозд (spike-shaped metal fastener used for joining wood or similar materials) · gl cravo (spike-shaped metal fastener used for joining wood or similar materials) · ga ionga (on fingers and toes) · mk заковка (spike-shaped metal fastener used for joining wood or similar materials) · zh 手指甲 (on fingers and toes) · hi कील (spike-shaped metal fastener used for joining wood or similar materials) · ta நகம் (on fingers and toes) · sce ghimusun (on fingers and toes) · nb negl (on fingers and toes) · lo ເລັບ (on fingers and toes) · dtr sondulu (on fingers and toes) · atv тыргак (on fingers and toes) · ckb نینۆک (on fingers and toes) · sah тыҥырах (on fingers and toes) · oj nishlanzh (on fingers and toes) · zh 指甲 (on fingers and toes) · pap uña (on fingers and toes) · rm guotta (spike-shaped metal fastener used for joining wood or similar materials) · lt nagas (on fingers and toes) · sv nagel (on fingers and toes) · ln longongo (on fingers and toes) · ko 손톱 (on fingers and toes) · mba lansang (spike-shaped metal fastener used for joining wood or similar materials) · az mismar (spike-shaped metal fastener used for joining wood or similar materials) · ar مُسمار (spike-shaped metal fastener used for joining wood or similar materials) · si පයැඟිලි (on fingers and toes) · eve оста (on fingers and toes) · hrx Naal (on fingers and toes) · crh tırnaq (on fingers and toes) · sl cvek (spike-shaped metal fastener used for joining wood or similar materials) · ain クンギ (spike-shaped metal fastener used for joining wood or similar materials) · tet kukun (on fingers and toes) · frp ongla (on fingers and toes) · lt vinis (spike-shaped metal fastener used for joining wood or similar materials) · om qeensa (on fingers and toes) · si අතැඟිලි (on fingers and toes) · mn ᠬᠢᠮᠤᠰᠤ (on fingers and toes) · tih salindu (on fingers and toes) · cs hřebík (spike-shaped metal fastener used for joining wood or similar materials) · cu гвоздь (spike-shaped metal fastener used for joining wood or similar materials) · ko 못 (spike-shaped metal fastener used for joining wood or similar materials) · qu sillu (on fingers and toes) · kmr nînok (on fingers and toes) · fa نَاخُن (on fingers and toes) · yi נאָגל (on fingers and toes) · roa-tar chiode (spike-shaped metal fastener used for joining wood or similar materials) · kmr bizmar (spike-shaped metal fastener used for joining wood or similar materials) · bth pasak (spike-shaped metal fastener used for joining wood or similar materials) · sh klin (spike-shaped metal fastener used for joining wood or similar materials) · qu sillu (on fingers and toes) · gd ìne (on fingers and toes) · rsk нохец (on fingers and toes) · my သံမှို (spike-shaped metal fastener used for joining wood or similar materials) · evn осикта (on fingers and toes) · ruq ungľă (on fingers and toes) · rup unglji (on fingers and toes) · he ציפורן (on fingers and toes) · ota مسمار (spike-shaped metal fastener used for joining wood or similar materials) · mtf kobaŋka (spike-shaped metal fastener used for joining wood or similar materials) · sma guehpere (on fingers and toes) · arc ܨܨܐ (spike-shaped metal fastener used for joining wood or similar materials) · mi maikuku (on fingers and toes) · gl espita (spike-shaped metal fastener used for joining wood or similar materials) · rm gotta (spike-shaped metal fastener used for joining wood or similar materials) · zza nengêk (archaic unit of length) · or ନଖ (on fingers and toes) · gld хосакта (on fingers and toes) · zdj fuu (on fingers and toes) · grc ὄνυξ (on fingers and toes) · roa-opt cravo (spike-shaped metal fastener used for joining wood or similar materials) · da negl (on fingers and toes) · txb mekwa (on fingers and toes) · swb kofu (on fingers and toes) · tmr מַסְמְרָא (spike-shaped metal fastener used for joining wood or similar materials) · eu iltze (spike-shaped metal fastener used for joining wood or similar materials) · ky мык (spike-shaped metal fastener used for joining wood or similar materials) · uli chifel (spike-shaped metal fastener used for joining wood or similar materials) · sh чавао (spike-shaped metal fastener used for joining wood or similar materials) · ca ungla (on fingers and toes) · tly nanqır (on fingers and toes) · fro ongle (on fingers and toes) · bn পেরেক (spike-shaped metal fastener used for joining wood or similar materials) · pt prego (spike-shaped metal fastener used for joining wood or similar materials) · te మేకు (spike-shaped metal fastener used for joining wood or similar materials) · ur ناخُن (on fingers and toes) · bsy sindulu (on fingers and toes) · vec ciodo (spike-shaped metal fastener used for joining wood or similar materials) · tr mıh (spike-shaped metal fastener used for joining wood or similar materials) · fo nagli (spike-shaped metal fastener used for joining wood or similar materials) · wal misimaariya (spike-shaped metal fastener used for joining wood or similar materials) · bg пиро́н (spike-shaped metal fastener used for joining wood or similar materials) · zza neku (on fingers and toes) · gl rebregón (spike-shaped metal fastener used for joining wood or similar materials) · vo nuel (on fingers and toes) · mr खिळा (spike-shaped metal fastener used for joining wood or similar materials) · fi kynsi (on fingers and toes) · ckb نیوخان (on fingers and toes) · zza mêğ (spike-shaped metal fastener used for joining wood or similar materials) · be цвік (spike-shaped metal fastener used for joining wood or similar materials) · mi matikuku (on fingers and toes) · hrx Naaghel (spike-shaped metal fastener used for joining wood or similar materials) · ms kuku (on fingers and toes) · sq thon (on fingers and toes) · ml ആണി (spike-shaped metal fastener used for joining wood or similar materials) · ia ungula (on fingers and toes) · tsg kukku (on fingers and toes) · el καρφί (spike-shaped metal fastener used for joining wood or similar materials) · uk ні́готь (on fingers and toes) · ch lulok (spike-shaped metal fastener used for joining wood or similar materials) · cu ногъть (on fingers and toes) · tk dyrnak (on fingers and toes) · tr çivi (spike-shaped metal fastener used for joining wood or similar materials) · id kuku (on fingers and toes) · qu şillu (on fingers and toes) · ka ლურსმანი (spike-shaped metal fastener used for joining wood or similar materials) · be пазно́гаць (on fingers and toes) · yi צוואָק (spike-shaped metal fastener used for joining wood or similar materials) · lmo ungia (on fingers and toes) · fa ناخُن (on fingers and toes) · hrx Naal (spike-shaped metal fastener used for joining wood or similar materials) · nds Tengel (on fingers and toes) · bkt longongo (on fingers and toes) · vi đinh (spike-shaped metal fastener used for joining wood or similar materials) · zh зыҗя (on fingers and toes) · es uña (on fingers and toes) · bqi میخ (spike-shaped metal fastener used for joining wood or similar materials) · av малъ (on fingers and toes) · te నఖము (on fingers and toes) · eo najlo (spike-shaped metal fastener used for joining wood or similar materials) · jv paku (spike-shaped metal fastener used for joining wood or similar materials) · cy hoel (archaic unit of length) · et nael (spike-shaped metal fastener used for joining wood or similar materials) · ml നഖം (on fingers and toes) · ta ஆணி (spike-shaped metal fastener used for joining wood or similar materials) · ilo kuko (on fingers and toes) · ba ҡаҙаҡ (spike-shaped metal fastener used for joining wood or similar materials) · ro unghie (on fingers and toes) · bo གཟེར (spike-shaped metal fastener used for joining wood or similar materials) · pa ਮੇਖ਼ (spike-shaped metal fastener used for joining wood or similar materials) · ar ضفر (on fingers and toes) · chr ᏴᎩ (spike-shaped metal fastener used for joining wood or similar materials) · sc úgna (on fingers and toes) · cop ⲓⲉⲃ (on fingers and toes) · ur کِیل (spike-shaped metal fastener used for joining wood or similar materials) · es clavo (spike-shaped metal fastener used for joining wood or similar materials) · lv nags (on fingers and toes) · cs nehet (on fingers and toes) · ja 釘 (spike-shaped metal fastener used for joining wood or similar materials) · mt musmar (spike-shaped metal fastener used for joining wood or similar materials) · mn хадаас (spike-shaped metal fastener used for joining wood or similar materials) · km ដែកគោល (spike-shaped metal fastener used for joining wood or similar materials) · az dırnaq (on fingers and toes) · ht zong pye (toenail) (on fingers and toes) · inh мӏара (on fingers and toes) · wa clå (spike-shaped metal fastener used for joining wood or similar materials) · sw msumari (spike-shaped metal fastener used for joining wood or similar materials) · sc crau (spike-shaped metal fastener used for joining wood or similar materials) · otk 𐱃𐰃𐰺𐰭𐰴 (on fingers and toes) · sc giau (spike-shaped metal fastener used for joining wood or similar materials) · fy neil (on fingers and toes) · cv пӑта (on fingers and toes) · si නියපොතු (on fingers and toes) · tl pako (spike-shaped metal fastener used for joining wood or similar materials) · arc ܛܦܪܐ (on fingers and toes) · it chiodo (spike-shaped metal fastener used for joining wood or similar materials) · es garra (on fingers and toes) · pt cravo (spike-shaped metal fastener used for joining wood or similar materials) · mfe zong (on fingers and toes) · he צִפֹּרֶן (on fingers and toes) · uz mix (spike-shaped metal fastener used for joining wood or similar materials) · chr ᎤᎿᏑᎦᏢᎢ (on fingers and toes) · pms ongia (on fingers and toes) · lij óngia (on fingers and toes) · kn ಉಗುರು (on fingers and toes) · sms kõʒʒ (on fingers and toes) · ill kinuku (on fingers and toes) · da nagle (spike-shaped metal fastener used for joining wood or similar materials) · mk нокт (on fingers and toes) · stq Nail (on fingers and toes) · ar مسمار (spike-shaped metal fastener used for joining wood or similar materials) · jv kanaka (on fingers and toes) · fr seize (archaic unit of length) · br ivinoù (on fingers and toes) · ca clau (spike-shaped metal fastener used for joining wood or similar materials) · th เล็บ (on fingers and toes) · inh хьастам (spike-shaped metal fastener used for joining wood or similar materials) · frm ongle (on fingers and toes) · pt unha (on fingers and toes) · wal xugunttaa (on fingers and toes) · udm гижы (on fingers and toes) · is nögl (on fingers and toes) · ssy lific (on fingers and toes) · ky тырмак (on fingers and toes) · lo ຕະປູ (spike-shaped metal fastener used for joining wood or similar materials) · ps مېخ (spike-shaped metal fastener used for joining wood or similar materials) · rue клинець (spike-shaped metal fastener used for joining wood or similar materials) · br tachoù (spike-shaped metal fastener used for joining wood or similar materials) · be но́гаць (on fingers and toes) · sro unga (on fingers and toes) · zh җиҗя (on fingers and toes) · lmo ciod (spike-shaped metal fastener used for joining wood or similar materials) · sl žebelj (spike-shaped metal fastener used for joining wood or similar materials) · gd tarag (spike-shaped metal fastener used for joining wood or similar materials) · tr tırnak (on fingers and toes) · nds Nagel (on fingers and toes) · ps نوک (on fingers and toes) · af nael (on fingers and toes) · hi नख (on fingers and toes) · is saumur (spike-shaped metal fastener used for joining wood or similar materials) · haw maiʻao (on fingers and toes) · zza nengu (diq) (on fingers and toes) · tk myh (spike-shaped metal fastener used for joining wood or similar materials) · om bismaara (spike-shaped metal fastener used for joining wood or similar materials) · gl prego (spike-shaped metal fastener used for joining wood or similar materials) · wa ongue (on fingers and toes) · ceb kuko (on fingers and toes) · da søm (spike-shaped metal fastener used for joining wood or similar materials) · syl ꠘꠃꠈ (on fingers and toes) · ug مىخ (spike-shaped metal fastener used for joining wood or similar materials) · ota چیوی (spike-shaped metal fastener used for joining wood or similar materials) · kmr mîx (spike-shaped metal fastener used for joining wood or similar materials) · gl unlla (on fingers and toes) · bn খিল (spike-shaped metal fastener used for joining wood or similar materials) · vec onza (on fingers and toes) · av магӏ (spike-shaped metal fastener used for joining wood or similar materials) · roa-tar cèndre (spike-shaped metal fastener used for joining wood or similar materials) · ht zong (fingernail) (on fingers and toes) · zu uzipho class 11/10 (on fingers and toes) · kw kenter (spike-shaped metal fastener used for joining wood or similar materials) · drg sondullu (on fingers and toes) · mk шајка (spike-shaped metal fastener used for joining wood or similar materials) · tg нохун (on fingers and toes) · pal 𐭬𐭩𐭧 (spike-shaped metal fastener used for joining wood or similar materials) · myv кенже (on fingers and toes) · ale qagalgiq (on fingers and toes) · bg но́кът (on fingers and toes) · kap милъо (on fingers and toes) · ar مَسمار (spike-shaped metal fastener used for joining wood or similar materials) · hi नाख़ुन (on fingers and toes) · eu azazkal (on fingers and toes) · nds Nagel (spike-shaped metal fastener used for joining wood or similar materials) · sa नख (on fingers and toes) · akl tunong (spike-shaped metal fastener used for joining wood or similar materials) · ast clavu (spike-shaped metal fastener used for joining wood or similar materials) · bal ناکن (on fingers and toes) · dlm jongla (on fingers and toes) · ar ظِفِر (on fingers and toes) · gd tarrag (spike-shaped metal fastener used for joining wood or similar materials) · nap chiuovo (spike-shaped metal fastener used for joining wood or similar materials) · gun karavo (spike-shaped metal fastener used for joining wood or similar materials) · se gazza (on fingers and toes) · fro ungle (on fingers and toes) · fr ongle (on fingers and toes) · km ក្រចក (on fingers and toes) · oc ungla (on fingers and toes) · la unguis (on fingers and toes) · rup civii (spike-shaped metal fastener used for joining wood or similar materials) · kmr neynok (on fingers and toes) · nds Nagel (on fingers and toes) · pjt piri (on fingers and toes) · cy hoel (spike-shaped metal fastener used for joining wood or similar materials) · ar مِسْمَار (spike-shaped metal fastener used for joining wood or similar materials) · kqr sondulu (on fingers and toes) · vec ongia (on fingers and toes) · bxd laʔ³¹ saŋ³⁵ (fingernail) (on fingers and toes) · fj kuku (on fingers and toes) · et küüs (on fingers and toes) · dtp sondulu (on fingers and toes) · tt кадак (spike-shaped metal fastener used for joining wood or similar materials) · pnt καρφί (spike-shaped metal fastener used for joining wood or similar materials) · mnc ᡥᡳᡨᠠᡥᡡᠨ (on fingers and toes) · fur ongule (on fingers and toes) · rup penurã (spike-shaped metal fastener used for joining wood or similar materials) · ia ungue (on fingers and toes) · am ጥፍር (on fingers and toes) · ist ciuodo (spike-shaped metal fastener used for joining wood or similar materials) · fur claud (spike-shaped metal fastener used for joining wood or similar materials) · uz tirnoq (on fingers and toes) · mbb sulu (on fingers and toes) · evn тыпкэн (spike-shaped metal fastener used for joining wood or similar materials) · sc cravu (spike-shaped metal fastener used for joining wood or similar materials) · kxd kuku (on fingers and toes) · th ตาปู (spike-shaped metal fastener used for joining wood or similar materials) · so ciddi (on fingers and toes) · gv ingin (on fingers and toes) · rup cunj (spike-shaped metal fastener used for joining wood or similar materials) · vi móng (on fingers and toes) · roa-tar unghie (on fingers and toes) · mba sulu (on fingers and toes) · my ခြေသည်း (on fingers and toes) · as খিলি (spike-shaped metal fastener used for joining wood or similar materials) · mr नख (on fingers and toes) · my သံ (spike-shaped metal fastener used for joining wood or similar materials) · gu ખીલો (spike-shaped metal fastener used for joining wood or similar materials) · ota ظفر (on fingers and toes) · uk цвях (spike-shaped metal fastener used for joining wood or similar materials) · kw ewin (on fingers and toes) · kk шеге (spike-shaped metal fastener used for joining wood or similar materials) · orv пазногъть (on fingers and toes) · dsb gózdź (spike-shaped metal fastener used for joining wood or similar materials) · kxd paku (spike-shaped metal fastener used for joining wood or similar materials) · my လက်သည်း (on fingers and toes) · ang næġl (on fingers and toes) · rm ungla (on fingers and toes) · yur 'wehlketeg (on fingers and toes) · udi мух (on fingers and toes) · zh 釘子 /钉子 (spike-shaped metal fastener used for joining wood or similar materials) · scn ugna (on fingers and toes) · ast uña (on fingers and toes) · mn хумс (on fingers and toes) · mi kuku (on fingers and toes) · sq gozhdë (spike-shaped metal fastener used for joining wood or similar materials) · oc ongla (on fingers and toes) · el νύχι (on fingers and toes) · war kulo (on fingers and toes) · akl kuku (on fingers and toes) · as গজাল (spike-shaped metal fastener used for joining wood or similar materials) · nl spijker (spike-shaped metal fastener used for joining wood or similar materials) · bal ناہن (on fingers and toes) · sh nȍkat (on fingers and toes) · bo སེན་མོ (on fingers and toes) · cak ixk’äq (on fingers and toes) · fr clou (spike-shaped metal fastener used for joining wood or similar materials) · sh гвозд (spike-shaped metal fastener used for joining wood or similar materials) · sid mismaare (spike-shaped metal fastener used for joining wood or similar materials) · ota طرناق (on fingers and toes) · ka ფრჩხილი (on fingers and toes) · ccc klawojkolo (spike-shaped metal fastener used for joining wood or similar materials) · hi नेल (spike-shaped metal fastener used for joining wood or similar materials) · sw ukucha (on fingers and toes) · ga tairne (spike-shaped metal fastener used for joining wood or similar materials) · de Nagel (spike-shaped metal fastener used for joining wood or similar materials) · pl gwóźdź (spike-shaped metal fastener used for joining wood or similar materials) · sm maiʻuʻu (on fingers and toes) · jv kuku (on fingers and toes) · scn ghiovu (spike-shaped metal fastener used for joining wood or similar materials) · ceb lansang (spike-shaped metal fastener used for joining wood or similar materials) · sh čavao (spike-shaped metal fastener used for joining wood or similar materials) · xcl եղունգն (on fingers and toes) · tk çüý (spike-shaped metal fastener used for joining wood or similar materials) · myv эське (spike-shaped metal fastener used for joining wood or similar materials) · ota میخ (spike-shaped metal fastener used for joining wood or similar materials) · ba тырнаҡ (on fingers and toes) · njo-jgl temezüng (on fingers and toes) · shu خنفر (on fingers and toes) · ko 발톱 (on fingers and toes) · ar مسْمار (spike-shaped metal fastener used for joining wood or similar materials) · de Nagel (on fingers and toes) · hy եղունգ (on fingers and toes) · gl baldón (spike-shaped metal fastener used for joining wood or similar materials) · sv spik (spike-shaped metal fastener used for joining wood or similar materials) · fo seymur (spike-shaped metal fastener used for joining wood or similar materials) · ar ظُفْر (on fingers and toes) · th เล็บมือ (on fingers and toes) · war raysang (spike-shaped metal fastener used for joining wood or similar materials) · bbl მჵაჲრი̆ (on fingers and toes) · hu szög (spike-shaped metal fastener used for joining wood or similar materials) · nn nagl (on fingers and toes) · cu ⱀⱁⰳⱏⱅⱐ (on fingers and toes) · rm aguotta (spike-shaped metal fastener used for joining wood or similar materials) · io unglo (on fingers and toes) · sk necht (on fingers and toes) · ru но́готь (on fingers and toes) · mvv salindu (on fingers and toes) · bh नाखुन (on fingers and toes) · af spyker (spike-shaped metal fastener used for joining wood or similar materials) · lb Nol (on fingers and toes) · hsb nochć (on fingers and toes) · sl noht (on fingers and toes) · nl nagel (on fingers and toes) · ota ناخن (on fingers and toes) · ang næġl (spike-shaped metal fastener used for joining wood or similar materials) · sh клин (spike-shaped metal fastener used for joining wood or similar materials) · nb spiker (spike-shaped metal fastener used for joining wood or similar materials) · ru гвоздь (spike-shaped metal fastener used for joining wood or similar materials) · it unghia (on fingers and toes) · oc clavèl (spike-shaped metal fastener used for joining wood or similar materials) · ba сөй (spike-shaped metal fastener used for joining wood or similar materials) · sh gvozd (spike-shaped metal fastener used for joining wood or similar materials) · ht klou (spike-shaped metal fastener used for joining wood or similar materials) · haw māiʻuʻu (on fingers and toes) · qu şillu (on fingers and toes) · kl kukik (on fingers and toes) · gl uña (on fingers and toes) · rm gutta (spike-shaped metal fastener used for joining wood or similar materials) · hrx Naaghel (on fingers and toes) · be цьвік (spike-shaped metal fastener used for joining wood or similar materials) · hu köröm (on fingers and toes) · pdc Naggel (on fingers and toes) · ce мӏара (on fingers and toes) · os зӕгӕл (spike-shaped metal fastener used for joining wood or similar materials) · ms paku (spike-shaped metal fastener used for joining wood or similar materials) · mel silou (on fingers and toes) · fa میخ (spike-shaped metal fastener used for joining wood or similar materials) · or କଣ୍ଟା (spike-shaped metal fastener used for joining wood or similar materials) · gin молъу (on fingers and toes) · scn ghiou (spike-shaped metal fastener used for joining wood or similar materials) · hi नाखुन (on fingers and toes) · sm fao (spike-shaped metal fastener used for joining wood or similar materials) · rm guta (spike-shaped metal fastener used for joining wood or similar materials) · ro cui (spike-shaped metal fastener used for joining wood or similar materials) · os ных (on fingers and toes) · sib cilun (on fingers and toes) · br ivin (on fingers and toes) · cv пӑта (spike-shaped metal fastener used for joining wood or similar materials) · ja 爪 (on fingers and toes) · eve типкир (spike-shaped metal fastener used for joining wood or similar materials) · rm guota (spike-shaped metal fastener used for joining wood or similar materials) · rif iššar (on fingers and toes) · lv nagla (spike-shaped metal fastener used for joining wood or similar materials) · aa lifiq (on fingers and toes) · hil lansang (spike-shaped metal fastener used for joining wood or similar materials) · gld тукпэн (spike-shaped metal fastener used for joining wood or similar materials) · kaw kuku (on fingers and toes) · ast clau (spike-shaped metal fastener used for joining wood or similar materials) · ug تىرناق (on fingers and toes) · ce хьостам (spike-shaped metal fastener used for joining wood or similar materials) · sh но̏кат (on fingers and toes) · lb Nol (spike-shaped metal fastener used for joining wood or similar materials) · chr ᎤᏰᏑᎧᎸᎢ (on fingers and toes) · fi naula (spike-shaped metal fastener used for joining wood or similar materials) · hy մեխ (spike-shaped metal fastener used for joining wood or similar materials) · sq thua (on fingers and toes) · mt difer (on fingers and toes) · sq kunj (spike-shaped metal fastener used for joining wood or similar materials)

wikidata: Q37077 · wikidata: Q36864 · wikidata: Q36864

nail en · VERB · etymology 2

Pronunciation

• nāl
• (US) audio
• [neɪ̯ɫ]
• /neɪl/

Etymology

From Middle English naylen, from Old English næġlan.

Meanings

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. (transitive) To stud or boss with nails, or as if with nails.
   • The rivets of their arms were nail'd with gold. 1700, [John] Dryden, “The Flower and the Leaf: Or, The Lady in the Arbour. A Vision.”, in Fables Ancient and Modern; […], London: […] Jacob Tonson, […], →OCLC:
4. (slang) To catch.
   • we'll nail the sophist to it, if we can get him on that charge; 2005, Lesley, transl. Brown, Sophist, 261a, translation of original by Plato:
   • Military Intelligence seems to be on the spot in a quiet sort of way. I just met a G-2 slue-foot and he was a most efficient guy! They're keeping low, I think, until they nail their man. 1943 October 9, The Australian Women's Weekly, page 3, column 4:
   • I pray you now send me some dub, / A bottle or two to the needy. / I beg you won't bring it yourself, / The harman is at the Old-Bailey; / I'd rather you'd send it behalf, / For, if they twig you they'll nail you. 1765, “A Song in High Life”, in The Merry Medley, volume 1, London: W. Hoggard, page 35:
   • Dammit, John, I'm tired of this 'Demolition Man' stuff! […] Now, I know you've been trying to nail this psycho for two years, but try remembering a little thing called official police procedure. 1993, Peter M. Lenkov, Robert Reneau, Daniel Waters, Demolition Man, spoken by Captain Healy (Steve Kahan):
5. (slang, transitive) To expose as a sham.
6. (slang, transitive) To accomplish (a task) completely and successfully.
   • The chief executive and founder of Meta used his new Threads account to say Twitter had not “nailed” its opportunity to become a mega app and that his copycat version would be “focusing on kindness”. 2023 July 6, Dan Milmo, quoting Mark Zuckerberg, “Zuckerberg uses Threads to say Twitter has missed its chance”, in The Guardian, →ISSN:
   • I really nailed that test.
7. (slang, transitive) To hit (a target) effectively with some weapon.
   • Fly-half Ruaridh Jackson departed early with injury but Chris Paterson nailed a penalty from wide out left to give Scotland an early lead, and Jackson's replacement Dan Parks added three more points with a penalty which skimmed over the crossbar. 2011 October 1, Tom Fordyce, “Rugby World Cup 2011: England 16-12 Scotland”, in BBC Sport:
8. (slang, transitive, vulgar) 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. 1999, Neil Goldman, Garrett Donovan, “Da Boom”, in Family Guy, season 2, episode 3, spoken by Brian Griffin (Seth MacFarlane):
   • Allison Reynolds: I'm a nymphomaniac. […] The only person I told was my shrink. / Andrew Clark: And what did he do when you told him? / Allison Reynolds: He nailed me. 1985, John Hughes, The Breakfast Club (motion picture):
9. To spike, as a cannon.
   • That the Ordinance be not nayled, nor the munition fiered. 1598, Robert Barret, he Theorike and Practike of Modern Warres:
10. (transitive) To nail down: to make certain, or confirm.
11. (obsolete, slang, transitive) To steal.
    • Loud was the laughter at this and other remarks about nailing "stooks" (silk pocket handkerchiefs), "clouts" (cotton ditto), german sausages, &c. 1866, Temple Bar, volume 16, page 507:

Forms

Antonyms

screw

Deriveds

nail to the counter · nail one's colors to the mast · nail the hammer on the head · nail someone to the wall · nail Jell-O to a wall · nail it · nail jelly to a wall · nail Jell-O to a tree · nail one's colours to the mast

Relateds

Wikipedia disambiguation page on both meanings of nail · Wikipedia disambiguation page on spike · Nail in the Encyclopædia Britannica (11th edition, 1911)

Synonyms

hump · coitize · dick · fill · occupy · take · have · grasp · screw · ream · be with · expletive deleted · nail · give someone the time · fulfill · wap · jump · frig · poke · jape · hit · tap · bang · take · love · dight · dick · plough · Informal and slang terms · take hold · eff · boom-boom · drill · know · fang · lie by · love up · roger · rape · bauf · pump · make · bone · run through · knock · do · dig out · know someone in the biblical sense · swive · diddle · fuck · screw · Any of Thesaurus:copulate + "with" · bonk · begripe · rut · pork · coit · rock · slip it to · enjoy · fullbring · sleep with · smush · ball · frick · ravage · smash · go in unto · arrest · sard · pin down · fix · jump someone's bones · mount · go with · lay · Formal terms · lay hold of · feague · service · give someone one · penetrate · ace · schlong · knob · pound · boff · get up in · gripe · shag · pound · get into someone's pants · stallionize · tup · get over on · capture · seduce · root · frack · prig · boink · clinch · rail · slay · shelve · shaft · get · doink · collar · seize · lock down · apprehend · go to bed with · beep · plug · season · have one's wicked way with · frak · see to · nick · hammer · have one's way with · lie with · knock off · bed

Translations (108)

no treffe (hit a target effectively with some weapon) · ru прибивать (employ a nail as a fastener) · es entibar (employ a nail as a fastener) · ru трахнуть (engage in sexual intercourse) · nl slagen voor (accomplish something completely and successfully) · fr clouer (employ a nail as a fastener) · grc ἐφηλόω (employ a nail as a fastener) · hu szegez (employ a nail as a fastener) · da sømme (employ a nail as a fastener) · es clavar (employ a nail as a fastener) · he מִסְמֵר (employ a nail as a fastener) · fr toucher (hit a target effectively with some weapon) · hu szögez (employ a nail as a fastener) · de annageln (employ a nail as a fastener) · sq bashkoj (catch) · bg хващам (catch) · ast clavar (employ a nail as a fastener) · uk прибити (employ a nail as a fastener) · it inchiodare (employ a nail as a fastener) · de nageln (employ a nail as a fastener) · hu odaszegez (employ a nail as a fastener) · fr baiser (engage in sexual intercourse) · es acertar (accomplish something completely and successfully) · ru вдуть (engage in sexual intercourse) · fr fourrer (engage in sexual intercourse) · es acertar (hit a target effectively with some weapon) · tr çivilemek (employ a nail as a fastener) · gl cravar (employ a nail as a fastener) · he סִמֵּר (employ a nail as a fastener) · ru чпокнуть (engage in sexual intercourse) · lb neelen (employ a nail as a fastener) · fur inclaudâ (employ a nail as a fastener) · es achuntar (accomplish something completely and successfully) · cs přibít (employ a nail as a fastener) · hu odaszögez (employ a nail as a fastener) · de festnageln (employ a nail as a fastener) · sq ngul (employ a nail as a fastener) · pl wbijać gwóźdź (employ a nail as a fastener) · no fakke (catch) · ota چاقمق (employ a nail as a fastener) · gl chapar (employ a nail as a fastener) · de festnageln (catch) · sl pribiti (employ a nail as a fastener) · ml ആണിയടിക്കുക (employ a nail as a fastener) · es atinar (accomplish something completely and successfully) · af spyker (engage in sexual intercourse) · el καρφώνω (hit a target effectively with some weapon) · fr choper (catch) · br tachañ (employ a nail as a fastener) · el καρφώνω (employ a nail as a fastener) · uk прибивати (employ a nail as a fastener) · hu eltalál (hit a target effectively with some weapon) · es tirarse (engage in sexual intercourse) · lb festneelen (employ a nail as a fastener) · hu rászegez (employ a nail as a fastener) · nl inkloppen (employ a nail as a fastener) · es clavetear (employ a nail as a fastener) · ru приколачивать (employ a nail as a fastener) · hy մեխել (employ a nail as a fastener) · bg чукам (engage in sexual intercourse) · fr emmancher (engage in sexual intercourse) · de sich krallen (catch) · es sufrir (employ a nail as a fastener) · hu sikerrel teljesít (accomplish something completely and successfully) · hu megkettyint (engage in sexual intercourse) · izh naaglia (employ a nail as a fastener) · nl voor elkaar krijgen (accomplish something completely and successfully) · mk заковува (employ a nail as a fastener) · fi naulita (employ a nail as a fastener) · ia clavar (employ a nail as a fastener) · ru пригвоздить (employ a nail as a fastener) · fi naulata (employ a nail as a fastener) · izh naaglita (employ a nail as a fastener) · fr envoyer (accomplish something completely and successfully) · mi taratiti (employ a nail as a fastener) · tr çakmak (employ a nail as a fastener) · sv spika (employ a nail as a fastener) · ota قاقمق (employ a nail as a fastener) · it inchiodare (catch) · hu elcsíp (catch) · ca clavar (employ a nail as a fastener) · no spikre (employ a nail as a fastener) · sv nagla (employ a nail as a fastener) · aln pik (catch) · gv trein (employ a nail as a fastener) · hu lebuktat (expose as a sham) · pt pregar (employ a nail as a fastener) · lb unneelen (employ a nail as a fastener) · nl nagelen (employ a nail as a fastener) · hu elfog (catch) · got 𐌲𐌰𐌽𐌰𐌲𐌻𐌾𐌰𐌽 (employ a nail as a fastener) · nl vastpinnen (catch) · bg улавям (catch) · de nageln (engage in sexual intercourse) · no fange (catch) · es achuntar (hit a target effectively with some weapon) · bg заковавам (employ a nail as a fastener) · hu megdug (engage in sexual intercourse) · cho anʋhlichi (employ a nail as a fastener) · hu rászögez (employ a nail as a fastener) · el καρφώνω (engage in sexual intercourse) · pt meter (engage in sexual intercourse) · nds nageln (employ a nail as a fastener) · ht kloure (employ a nail as a fastener) · pt pegar (catch) · ne ठोक्नु (engage in sexual intercourse) · hu leleplez (expose as a sham) · hu elkap (catch)