hangnail
UK[ˈhæŋ.neɪl]US[ˈhæŋ.neɪl]
n
A small piece of torn skin at the side or base of a fingernail.
Morpheme Breakdown
hang
nail
hang
nail
Etymology
The word "hangnail" is a classic example of folk etymology reshaping a term over time. It originates from the old english 'angnægl', where 'ang-' meant "painful, tight" (related to 'anguish') and '-nægl' meant "nail". This described the painful condition near the fingernail. By the 17th century, the unfamiliar 'ang-' was reinterpreted as the more common word "hang", suggesting a piece of skin that 'hangs' from the nail. This alteration in spelling and perceived structure, while historically inaccurate, solidified the modern form and its literal-seeming composition.
Analysis
Structure: hang + nail
hang (from old english 'hangian', meaning to suspend); nail (from old english 'nægl', meaning fingernail or metal spike).
Examples
I got a painful hangnail from biting the skin around my thumbnail.
She carefully clipped the hangnail to prevent it from tearing further.
Dry winter weather often causes hangnails.