treenail

or tre·nail, trun·nel

[ tree-neyl, tren-l, truhn-l ]

/ ˈtriˌneɪl, ˈtrɛn l, ˈtrʌn l /

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noun

a wooden pin that swells when moist, used for fastening together timbers, as those of ships.

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Origin of treenail

First recorded in 1250–1300, treenail is from the Middle English word trenayl.See tree, nail

Words nearby treenail

tree line, treelined, tree lupine, tree mallow, treen, treenail, treenware, tree of heaven, tree of Jesse, tree of knowledge of good and evil, tree of life

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

How to use treenail in a sentence

A treenail driven in here and there serves to keep all in place by nipping the cross poles tightly.
Shifts and Expedients of Camp Life, Travel & Exploration|W. B. Lord
This, after being faced and hewn with the adze, is passed through a double-handed cutting instrument known as a treenail tool.
Shifts and Expedients of Camp Life, Travel & Exploration|W. B. Lord
In wild countries any tough straight-grained wood may be selected for treenail making.
Shifts and Expedients of Camp Life, Travel & Exploration|W. B. Lord
The perch bolt (D) should be an iron pin, but may be a hard wood treenail.
Shifts and Expedients of Camp Life, Travel & Exploration|W. B. Lord

When we found that no one was inside we told Captain Treenail of the man we had seen climbing up the cliff.
Captain Mugford|W.H.G. Kingston

British Dictionary definitions for treenail

treenail

trenail trunnel (ˈtrʌnəl)

/ (ˈtriːneɪl, ˈtrɛnəl) /

noun

a dowel used for pinning planks or timbers together

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012