coffin nail

American  

noun

Slang.

1. a cigarette.

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coffin nail British  

noun

1. a slang term for cigarette

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Etymology

Origin of coffin nail

First recorded in 1885–90

Example Sentences

They underwent DNA testing, bone analysis and the evaluation of archaeological evidence that was found, including 19th century coffin nails.

From Seattle Times

The Romans hammered nails into doors to avert plagues and pounded coffin nails into thresholds to keep nightmares at bay.

From New York Times

Human skulls are pierced with coffin nails and human bones are turned into Ouija board pieces; almost nothing is off-limits in the U.K.’s thriving online human remains trade, a Live Science investigation has found.

From Scientific American

Talk about a coffin nail in an already struggling downtown retail and residential core.

From Seattle Times

The skeletons were lodged in a dirt wall, close to coffin nails that appeared centuries old.

From Washington Post