toenail

[toh-neyl]

noun

1. a nail of a toe.

2. Carpentry.,  a nail driven obliquely.

3. Printing Slang.,  a parenthesis.

verb (used with object)

1. Carpentry.,  to secure with oblique nailing.

toenail

/ ˈtəʊˌneɪl /

noun

1. a thin horny translucent plate covering part of the dorsal surface of the end joint of each toe

2. carpentry a nail driven obliquely, as in joining one beam at right angles to another

3. slang,  printing a parenthesis

verb

1. (tr) carpentry to join (beams) by driving nails obliquely

Word History and Origins

Origin of toenail¹

First recorded in 1835–45; toe + nail

Example Sentences

We have all heard about Eubank's four nights in hospital and his toenails falling off.

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A Peruvian politician who had one of her advisers cut her toenails in parliament could be facing the boot.

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Eubank was admitted to hospital after the win and said he lost a toenail to "severe dehydration".

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Uzcátegui said guards once pulled out his toenails and denied him medication despite a high fever.

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Since Carrie has been married — been there, done that — one would think she wouldn’t be in a hurry to sweep up some other dude’s thickened toenail clippings.

Read more on Salon