nail

Meanings

1. 1
   verb

   attach something somewhere by means of nails

   nail the board onto the wall

2. 2
   verb

   succeed in obtaining a position

   They nailed a spot on the team.

3. 3
   noun

   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.

4. 4
   noun

   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.

   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.

5. 5
   verb

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

   He nailed the placard to the post.

6. 6
   verb

   To drive a nail.

   He used the ax head for nailing.

7. 7
   verb

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

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

8. 8
   verb

   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.

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, Low German Nagel, Dutch nagel, German Nagel, Danish negl, Swedish nagel, 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 (na…