Webster's English Dictionary

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nail

1. nail \'na--(*)l\ n [ME, fr. OE ngl; akin to OHG nagal nail, 
   fingernail, L ] often attrib unguis fingernail, toenail, claw, Gk onyx 1a: 
   a horny sheath protecting the upper end of each finger and toe of man a nd 
   most other primates 1b: a corresponding structure (as a claw) terminating a 
   digit  2: a slender usu. pointed and headed fastener designed to be pounded 
   in  3: an English unit of 1/16 yard 
2. nail vt 1: to fasten with or as if with a nail  2: to fix in steady 
   attention {~ed his eye on the crack}  3: CATCH, TRAP; esp : to detect and 
   expose so as to di scredit 4a: STRIKE, HIT  4b: to put out (a runner) in 
   baseball  - nail.er n