Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “nail” come from?

Nail comes from Middle English nail, from Proto-Germanic naglaz, from Proto-Indo-European h₃nogʰ-.

nail (English): The thin, horny plate at the ends of fingers and...

Definitions

  1. The thin, horny plate at the ends of fingers and...

Ancestry of “nail”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle EnglishnailAlternative form of nayl
2Old Englishnæġlnail
3Proto-West Germanicnaglnail; nail or peg used for fastening
4Proto-Germanicnaglaznail; nail or peg used for fastening
5Proto-Indo-Europeanh₃nogʰ-claw, nail; nail

Words derived from “nail”

  • thumbnail
  • fingernail
  • toenail
  • hobnailed
  • hobnail
  • nailbed
  • nailfold
  • nailbrush
  • nailhead
  • nailless
  • nailery
  • unnail
  • fingernailed
  • nailable
  • renail
  • naily
  • spignel
  • nailest
  • nailset
  • horsenail
  • nailcare
  • nailful
  • naileth
  • frost-nail
Every word from Proto-Indo-European h₃nogʰ- →