nail
UK[neɪl]US[neɪl]
n
a thin, hard layer that covers the outer tip of the fingers and toes
n
a small, thin piece of metal with a sharp point at one end and a flat head at the other, used for fastening pieces of wood together
v
to fasten something with a nail or nails
v
to catch someone and prove they are guilty of a crime or doing something wrong
Etymology
The word 'nail' has a deep Germanic lineage, originating from the Proto-Germanic naglaz, which itself descended from the Proto-Indo-European root h₃nogʰ-, meaning "nail." This ancient root is the common ancestor for words denoting both the anatomical feature and the fastener across several Indo-European languages, such as the Latin unguis (fingernail, claw) and the Greek ónyx. The core logic of the word lies in this shared concept of a hard, protective, or piercing point. Over centuries, the Old English nægl seamlessly carried both concrete meanings—the body part and the manufactured object—into Modern English, with the verb senses naturally developing from the action associated with the metal fastener.
Analysis
This is a simplex word of Germanic origin. The Old English form was nægl, meaning both "fingernail, toenail" and "metal spike." It functions as a single, unanalyzable morpheme in modern English.
Examples
She painted her nails a bright red.
He hammered the nail into the wall to hang the picture.
The prosecutor finally nailed the suspect with conclusive DNA evidence.