| an extraordinary or unusual thing, person, or event; an exceptional example or instance. |
| a stew of meat, vegetables, potatoes, etc. |
nail (neɪl) ![]() | |
| —n | |
| 1. | a fastening device usually made from round or oval wire, having a point at one end and a head at the other |
| 2. | anything resembling such a fastening device, esp in function or shape |
| 3. | fingernail See toenail the horny plate covering part of the dorsal surface of the fingers or toesRelated: ungual, ungular |
| 4. | the claw of a mammal, bird, or reptile |
| 5. | slang a hypodermic needle, used for injecting drugs |
| 6. | a unit of length, formerly used for measuring cloth, equal to two and a quarter inches |
| 7. | a nail in one's coffin an experience or event that tends to shorten life or hasten the end of something |
| 8. | bite one's nails |
| a. to chew off the ends of one's fingernails | |
| b. to be worried or apprehensive | |
| 9. | hard as nails |
| a. in tough physical condition | |
| b. without sentiment or feelings | |
| 10. | hit the nail on the head to do or say something correct or telling |
| 11. | on the nail (of payments) at once (esp in the phrase pay on the nail) |
| —vb | |
| 12. | to attach with or as if with nails |
| 13. | informal to arrest or seize |
| 14. | informal to hit or bring down, as with a shot: I nailed the sniper |
| 15. | informal to expose or detect (a lie or liar) |
| 16. | to fix or focus (one's eyes, attention, etc) on an object |
| 17. | to stud with nails |
| Related: ungual, ungular | |
| [Old English nǣgl; related to Old High German nagal nail, Latin unguis fingernail, claw, Greek onux] | |
| 'nailer | |
| —n | |
| 'nail-less | |
| —adj | |
nail (nāl)
n.
A fingernail or toenail.
A slender rod used in operations to fasten together the divided extremities of a broken bone.
nail definition
|
for fastening. (1.) Hebrew yathed, "piercing," a peg or nail of any material (Ezek. 15:3), more especially a tent-peg (Ex. 27:19; 35:18; 38:20), with one of which Jael (q.v.) pierced the temples of Sisera (Judg. 4:21, 22). This word is also used metaphorically (Zech. 10:4) for a prince or counsellor, just as "the battle-bow" represents a warrior. (2.) Masmer, a "point," the usual word for a nail. The words of the wise are compared to "nails fastened by the masters of assemblies" (Eccl. 12:11, A.V.). The Revised Version reads, "as nails well fastened are the words of the masters," etc. Others (as Plumptre) read, "as nails fastened are the masters of assemblies" (comp. Isa. 22:23; Ezra 9:8). David prepared nails for the temple (1 Chr. 22:3; 2 Chr. 3:9). The nails by which our Lord was fixed to the cross are mentioned (John 20:25; Col. 2:14). Nail of the finger (Heb. tsipporen, "scraping"). To "pare the nails" is in Deut. 21:12 (marg., "make," or "dress," or "suffer to grow") one of the signs of purification, separation from former heathenism (comp. Lev. 14:8; Num. 8:7). In Jer. 17:1 this word is rendered "point."