fingernail

See also: finger-nail and finger nail

English

Fingernails

Alternative forms

Etymology

From Middle English finger neil(e); equivalent to finger + nail. Compare Middle English nayl of fynger (fingernail) and Old English handnæġl (fingernail). Compare also Saterland Frisian Fingernail (fingernail), West Frisian fingerneil (fingernail), Dutch vingernagel (fingernail), German Fingernagel (fingernail), Danish fingernegl (fingernail), Swedish fingernagel (fingernail), Norwegian fingernegl (fingernail), Icelandic fingurnögl (fingernail).

Pronunciation

  • (US) IPA(key): /ˈfɪŋɡɚˌneɪl/
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Noun

fingernail (plural fingernails)

  1. The hard, flat translucent covering near the tip of a human finger, useful for scratching and fine manipulation.

Synonyms

Meronyms

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Translations

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