nailful

plural nailfuls · plural nailsful

1. Enough to be stored under or on one's fingernail.

   The man smiled, took out his snuff box and drew in a few nailfuls.

   2009, Linus Tongwo Asong, Salvation Colony, page 24

   3 more examples

   Sovey rushed inside and dashed a couple of nailsful of water into the burning ventilator, but to no purpose.

   1926, Glimpses of Huron Shore in Early Days and Story of Harrisville

   She was clawing at his undershirt, ripping the thin cotton and piercing his skin with her nails, digging into the flesh and gouging out crescent slivers of skin and blood, picking him apart, nailful by nailful.

   1988, Catherine Dai, Bound feet: stories of contemporary Taiwan, page 81

   Mercedes moved away from Jack and gripping Rosa's hand – her own nails were too short – she took a pinch and inhaled it. Rosa kissed Mercedes on the lips then took a further nailful and offered it to Jack who shook his head.

   2010, Bill Vidal, The Aztec, page 73

   Synonyms: fingernailful