hangnail

English

/ˈhæŋneɪl/, [heɪŋneɪ̯ɫ]

noun
Definitions
  • A loose, narrow strip of nail tissue protruding from the side edge and anchored near the base of a fingernail or toenail.
  • A pointed upper corner of the toenail (often created by improperly trimming by rounding the corner) that, as the nail grows, presses into the flesh or protrudes so that it may catch (“hang”) on stockings or shoes.

Etymology

Compound from English hang + English nail inherited from Middle English agnail inherited from Old English angnæġl, næġl (nail) inherited from Proto-Germanic *anguz (narrow, tight) inherited from Proto-Indo-European *h₂énǵʰus (narrow, tight) inherited from Proto-Germanic *naglaz (nail peg for fastening, finger toenail, nail) derived from Proto-Indo-European *h₃negʰ- (nail), *h₂enǵʰ- (narrow, tighten, tied together, constrict).

Origin

Proto-Indo-European

*h₂enǵʰ-

Gloss

narrow, tighten, tied together, constrict

Concept
Semantic Field

Spatial relations

Ontological Category

Property

Kanji

狭

Emoji

Timeline

Distribution of cognates by language

Geogrpahic distribution of cognates

Cognates and derived terms