nail

Etymology

Definitions

1. 1

   The thin, horny plate at the ends of fingers and toes on humans and some other animals.

   • When I'm nervous I bite my nails.
2. 2

   The basal thickened portion of the anterior wings of certain hemiptera.

3. 3

   The terminal horny plate on the beak of ducks, and other allied birds.

4. ›+ 16 more definitionsshow fewer

   1. 4

      The claw of a bird or other animal.

   2. 5

      A spike-shaped metal fastener used for joining wood or similar materials. The nail is…

      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. 6

      A round pedestal on which merchants once carried out their business, such as the four…

      A round pedestal on which merchants once carried out their business, such as the four nails outside The Exchange, Bristol.

   4. 7

      An archaic English unit of length equivalent to ¹⁄₂₀ of an ell or ¹⁄₁₆ of a yard (2+¹⁄₄…

      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).

   5. 8

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

      • He nailed the placard to the post.
   6. 9

      To drive a nail.

      • He used the ax head for nailing.
   7. 10

      To stud or boss with nails, or as if with nails.

      • The rivets of their arms were nail'd with gold.
   8. 11

      To catch.

      • 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.
      • 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.
      • 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.
   9. 12

      To expose as a sham.

   10. 13

       To accomplish (a task) completely and successfully.

       • I really nailed that test.
       • 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”.
   11. 14

       To hit (a target) effectively with some weapon.

   12. 15

       Of a male, to engage in sexual intercourse with.

       • 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.
       • There’s a benefit gala at the Boston Pops tonight, and... well, I’m trying to nail the flautist.
   13. 16

       To spike, as a cannon.

       • That the Ordinance be not nayled, nor the munition fiered.
   14. 17

       To nail down

       To nail down: to make certain, or confirm.

   15. 18

       To steal.

       • Loud was the laughter at this and other remarks about nailing "stooks" (silk pocket handkerchiefs), "clouts" (cotton ditto), german sausages, &c.
   16. 19

       A surname transferred from the nickname.

The neighborhood

• neighborclaw
• neighbortalon
• neighborWikipedia disambiguation page on both meanings of nail
• neighborWikipedia disambiguation page on spike
• neighborNail in the Encyclopædia Britannica (11th edition, 1911)