Etymology

doornail

D2O1O1R1N1A1I1L1

Today it means: A nail with a wide head, traditionally used in the construction and ornamentation of wooden doors. Full definition →

Middle English dore-nail
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The story

  1. Middle English · inherited fromdore-nail
  2. English todaydoornail

From Middle English dore-nail, equivalent to door + nail.

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.