NAIL

I. noun Etymology: Middle English, from Old English nægl; akin to Old High German nagal ~, finger~, Latin unguis finger~, toe~, claw, Greek onyx Date: before 12th century 1. a horny sheath protecting the upper end of each finger and toe of humans and most other primates, a structure (as a claw) that terminates a digit and corresponds to a ~, a slender usually pointed and headed fastener designed to be pounded in, II. transitive verb Date: before 12th century to fasten with or as if with a ~, to fix in steady attention , 3. catch , trap , to expose usually so as to discredit , to arrest or punish for an offense, 4. strike , hit , to put out (a runner) in baseball, to perform or complete perfectly or impressively , to gain or win decisively, to settle, establish, or represent clearly and unmistakably, to copulate with, ~er noun