The nail on a toe, especially the hard protective covering at the end of each toe. Can also refer to a type of angled nail used in construction.
Compound word from 'toe' (Old English tā) plus 'nail' (Old English nægel). The body part sense is straightforward, while the construction sense comes from the resemblance of angled fasteners to the shape of toenails.
Toenails are evolutionary remnants of claws - they're made of keratin, the same protein as animal claws and bird beaks. Our big toenail is particularly robust because our ancestors needed strong claws for climbing and gripping, functions we've largely abandoned.
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