nayl

Middle English

Alternative forms

Etymology

Inherited from Old English næġl, from Proto-Germanic *naglaz.

Pronunciation
  • IPA(key): /nɛi̯l/
  • Rhymes: -ɛi̯l

Noun

nayl (plural nayles)

  1. A nail (fingernail or toenail).
    • a. 1382, John Wycliffe, “Deuteronomy 21:12”, in Wycliffe's Bible:
      Thou schalt brynge hir in to thin hows; which womman schal schaue the heer, and schal kitte the nailes aboute...
      You should bring her into your house; that woman should shave her hair and cut her nails...
  2. A nail (metal fastening pin):
    • a. 1400, Geoffrey Chaucer, “The Knight's Tale”, in The Canterbury Tales, line 2007-2008:
      The nayl ydryven in the shode anyght; / The colde deeth, with mouth gapyng upright...
      The nail driven in the head's crown at night; / The cold death, with mouth gaping upright...
    1. (biblical) One of nails used to nail Jesus to the cross.
    2. (figuratively) A bothersome predicament or annoyance.
    3. (figuratively) A decisive point in a debate or disagreement.
  3. A nail (unit of longness or mass)
  4. The equivalent to a human nail in animals (e.g. a claw)
  5. (rare) An ocular malady present in humans and animals.

Derived terms

Descendants

References
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