nail

nail
{{11}}nail (n.) O.E. negel "metal pin," nægl "fingernail (handnægl), toenail," from P.Gmc. *naglaz (Cf. O.N. nagl "fingernail," nagli "metal nail;" O.S., O.H.G. nagel, O.Fris. neil, M.Du. naghel, Du. nagel, Ger. Nagel "fingernail, small metal spike"), from PIE root * (o)nogh "nail" (Cf. Gk. onyx "claw, fingernail;" L. unguis "nail, claw;" O.C.S. noga "foot," noguti "nail, claw;" Lith. naga "hoof," nagutis "fingernail;" O.Ir. ingen, O.Welsh eguin "nail, claw").
The "fingernail" sense seems to be the original one. Nail polish attested from 1891. To bite one's nails as a sign of anxiety is attested from 1570s. Nail-biting is from 1805. Hard as nails is from 1828. To hit the nail on the head "say or do just the right thing" is first recorded 1520s. Phrase on the nail "on the spot, exactly" is from 1590s, of obscure origin; OED says it is not even certain it belongs to this sense of nail.
{{12}}nail (v.) O.E. næglian "to fasten with nails," from P.Gmc. *ganaglijanan (Cf. O.S. neglian, O.N. negla, O.H.G. negilen, Ger. nageln, Goth. ganagljan "to nail"), from the root of NAIL (Cf. nail) (n.). Related: Nailed; nailing. Meaning "to catch, seize" is first recorded 1766, probably from earlier sense "to keep fixed in a certain position" (1610s). Meaning "to succeed in hitting" is from 1886. To nail down "to fix down with nails" is from 1660s.

Etymology dictionary. 2014.

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  • Nail — (n[=a]l), n. [AS. n[ae]gel, akin to D. nagel, OS. & OHG. nagal, G. nagel, Icel. nagl, nail (in sense 1), nagli nail (in sense 3), Sw. nagel nail (in senses 1 and 3), Dan. nagle, Goth. ganagljan to nail, Lith. nagas nail (in sense 1), Russ. nogote …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Nail — may refer to: Nail (anatomy), toughened keratin at the end of an animal digit Nail (beak), a plate of hard horny tissue at the tip of some bird beaks Nail (fastener), the pin shaped fastener used in engineering, woodworking and construction Nail… …   Wikipedia

  • Nail'd — Developer(s) Techland Publisher(s) Deep Silver Engine …   Wikipedia

  • Nail — Nail, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Nailed} (n[=a]ld); p. pr. & vb. n. {Nailing}.] [AS. n[ae]glian. See {Nail}, n.] 1. To fasten with a nail or nails; to close up or secure by means of nails; as, to nail boards to the beams. [1913 Webster] He is now dead …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • nail — ► NOUN 1) a small metal spike with a broadened flat head, hammered in to join things together or to serve as a hook. 2) a horny covering on the upper surface of the tip of the finger and toe in humans and other primates. ► VERB 1) fasten with a… …   English terms dictionary

  • Nail — steht für: Nagel im Englischen Ein angloamerikanisches Maßsystem Eine deutsche Metalcore Band, siehe Nail (Band) Nail (Vorname), einen männlichen Vornamen arabischer Herkunft Nail ist der Familienname folgender Personen: David Nail (* 1979), US… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Nail — Personnage de Dragon Ball Naissance Namek Origine Namek …   Wikipédia en Français

  • nail — [nāl] n. [ME naile < OE nægl, akin to Ger nagel < IE base * onogh, nail > Sans áṅghri , foot, Gr onyx, nail, L unguis, fingernail] 1. a) a thin, horny covering that grows out over the upper tip of a finger or toe b) a similar growth on a …   English World dictionary

  • Nail —   [neɪl; englisch »Nagel«], frühere britische Längeneinheit, 1 Nail = 2¼ Inch = 5,715 cm.   …   Universal-Lexikon

  • nail — [v1] fasten, fix with pointed object attach, beat, bind, drive, hammer, hit, hold, join, pin, pound, secure, sock*, spike, strike, tack, whack*; concepts 85,160,189 Ant. unfasten, unnail nail [v2] capture, arrest apprehend, bag, catch, collar*,… …   New thesaurus

  • nail up — To close or fasten with or as if with nails • • • Main Entry: ↑nail …   Useful english dictionary

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