toenail

American  

[toh-neyl] / ˈtoʊˌneɪl /

noun

1. a nail of a toe.

2. Carpentry. a nail driven obliquely.

3. Printing Slang. a parenthesis.

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verb (used with object)

1. Carpentry. to secure with oblique nailing.

toenail British  

/ 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

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verb

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

Etymology

Origin of toenail

First recorded in 1835–45; toe + nail

Example Sentences

Every muscle, every toenail, every metallic surface offers sharply focused detail.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 29, 2025

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.

From Salon • Jul. 13, 2025

First, there’s Pavements 1933-2002, an international exhibition that features artwork, Malkmus’ old notebooks and other ephemera, like a clipped toenail from original drummer Gary Young.

From Los Angeles Times • May 8, 2025

"Oh, look at that, Kingy," Dave would say, "It's lighter than a hummingbird's toenail clippings."

From BBC • Dec. 6, 2024

He heard his father bellow, "What—in the name of— what is this on my toenail?"

From "All About Sam" by Lois Lowry