nail in English: A thin piece of metal with a flat top and a sharp point, hit into wood to hold things together. The same word means the hard part at the end of a finger or a toe. (noun)

Translation

A thin piece of metal with a flat top and a sharp point, hit into wood to hold things together. The same word means the hard part at the end of a finger or a toe.

Word origin

From Old English naegl, which meant both the finger nail and the metal pin. The double meaning is very old and is shared across the Germanic languages.

Origin: Old English
Root: naegl

Grammar

Gender

Pluralnails

Examples

.

A nail is a small metal pin you hammer into wood.

.

One nail can hold quite a lot of weight.

.

Here "nails" are the hard parts at the ends of the fingers.

Related words

wood

The hard material that trees are made of, used to build and burn.

wall

A tall, flat side of a room or building, or one that stands outside.

finger

One of the long thin parts at the end of your hand.

hit

To move your hand or an object quickly and hard against something.

board

A long, flat piece of wood or other hard material.

hammer

A tool with a heavy metal head, used for hitting nails into wood.

scratch

A thin cut or mark made by something sharp; to rub or mark the skin with nails or claws.

toe

One of the five end parts of your foot.

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