■ noun
1》 a small metal spike with a broadened flat head, driven into wood to join things together or to serve as a hook.
2》 a horny covering on the upper surface of the tip of the finger and toe in humans and other primates.
↘a hard growth on the upper mandible of some soft-billed birds.
3》 a former measure of length for cloth, equal to 2 1/4 inches.
4》 a former measure of wool, beef, or other commodity, roughly equal to 7 or 8 pounds.
■ verb
1》 fasten with a ~ or ~s.
2》 informal detect or catch (someone, especially a suspected criminal).
3》 informal (in sport) strike (a ball) forcefully and successfully.
↘ Baseball (of a fielder) put (a runner) out by throwing to a base.
↘ chiefly N. Amer. (of a player) defeat or outwit (an opponent).
4》 ( ~ someone down ) elicit a firm commitment from someone.
5》 ( ~ something down ) identify something precisely.
Phrases
a ~ in the coffin an action or event likely to have a detrimental or destructive effect.
on the ~ ( N. Amer. also on the barrelhead ) (of payment) without delay.
Derivatives
-~ed adjective
~less adjective
Origin
OE nægel (n.), næglan (v.), of Gmc origin.