Etymology Explorer › Middle English

Where does “nayl” come from?

nayl (Middle English) comes from Old English næġl, from Proto-West Germanic nagl, from Proto-Germanic naglaz, from Proto-Indo-European h₃nogʰ- — claw, nail; nail.

nayl (Middle English): A nail; The equivalent to a human nail in...

Definitions

  1. A nail; The equivalent to a human nail in...

Ancestry of “nayl”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Old Englishnæġlnail
2Proto-West Germanicnaglnail; nail or peg used for fastening
3Proto-Germanicnaglaznail; nail or peg used for fastening
4Proto-Indo-Europeanh₃nogʰ-claw, nail; nail

Words derived from “nayl”

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