treenail

or tre·nail, trun·nel

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

/ ˈtriˌneɪl, ˈtrɛn l, ˈtrʌn l /

noun

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

Nearby words

treefish, treehopper, treehouse, treelined, treen, treenail, treenware, treetop, treeware, tref, treflé

Origin of treenail

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

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for treenail

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
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
True enough, Treenail; so the sooner we make a dash through the opening the better.
Tom Cringle's Log|Michael Scott
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

Treenail was coolness itself, and I aped him as well as I could.
Tom Cringle's Log|Michael Scott

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