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English word nail comes from Proto-Indo-European *h₃nogʷʰ-, Proto-Indo-European *h₃negʰ-, and later Proto-Germanic *naglaz ((anatomy) (finger) nail. Nail or peg used for fastening.)
*h₃nogʷʰ- (Proto-Indo-European)
*h₃negʰ- (Proto-Indo-European)
*naglaz (Proto-Germanic)
(anatomy) (finger) nail. Nail or peg used for fastening.
næġel (Old English)
nayl (Middle English)
nail (English)
A round pedestal on which merchants once carried out their business, such as the four nails outside The Exchange, Bristol.. 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.. An archaic English unit of length [...]