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NAIL
1. The hornyscale of plate of epidermis at the end of the fingers and toes of man and much apes. "His nayles like a briddes claws were." (Chaucer)
The nails are strictly homologous with hoofs and claws. When compressed, curved, and pointed, they are called talons or claws, and the animalbearing them is said to be unguiculate; when they incase the extremities of the digits they are called hoofs, and the animal is ungulate.
2. The basal thickened portion of the anterior wings of determined hemiptera. The terminalhornyplate on the beak of ducks, and another allied birds.
3. A slender, pointedpiece of metal, generally with a head, used for fastening pieces of tree or another material together, by being driven into or through them.
The various sorts of nails are named either from the use to which they are applied, from their shape, from their size, or from some another quality, as shingle, floor, ship-carpenters', and horseshoe nails, roseheads, diamonds, fourpenny, tenpenny (see Penny), chiselpointed, cut, wrought, or wire nails, etc.
4. A measure of length, beingtwo inches and a quarter, or the sixteenth of a yard. Nail ball, a round projectile with an iron bolt protruding to prevent it from turning in the gun. Nail plate, iron in plates from which cut nails are made. On the nail, in arm; on the spot; immediately; without delay or time of credit; as, to paymoney on the nail. "You shall have ten thousand pounds on the nail." . To hit the nail on the head, to hit most effectively; to do or speak a thing in the right way.
Origin: AS. Naegel, akin to D. Nagel, OS OHG. Nagal, G. Nagel, Icel. Nagl, nail (in sense 1), nagli nail (in sense 3), Sw. Nagelnail (in senses 1 and 3), Dan. Nagle, Goth. Ganagljan to nail, Lith. Nagas nail (in sense 1), Russ. Nogote, L. Unguis, Gr, Skr. Nakha.
Source: Websters Vocabulary