nail

I. noun Etymology: Middle English, from Old English nægl; akin to Old High German nagal nail, fingernail, Latin unguis fingernail, toenail, claw, Greek onyx Date: before 12th century 1. a. a horny sheath protecting the upper end of each finger and toe of humans and most other primates b. a structure (as a claw) that terminates a digit and corresponds to a nail 2. a slender usually pointed and headed fastener designed to be pounded in II. transitive verb Date: before 12th century 1. to fasten with or as if with a nail 2. to fix in steady attention <

nailed his eye on the crack

> 3. a. catch, trap b. to expose usually so as to discredit <

nailed the impostor

> c. to arrest or punish for an offense 4. a. strike, hit b. to put out (a runner) in baseball 5. to perform or complete perfectly or impressively <

nailed a jump shot

> 6. to gain or win decisively — often used with down <

nail down their consent

> 7. to settle, establish, or represent clearly and unmistakably — often used with down <

have nailed down the artist's technique

> 8. usually vulgar to copulate with • nailer noun