unguis

U1N1G2U1I1S1
/ˈʌŋ.ɡwɪs/

noun

The nail, claw, talon, or hoof of a finger, toe, or other appendage.

Similar
onychiumhorny structure
OriginLatin unguis →
Scrabble 7
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Meanings

noununguis (plural ungues or unguises)

plural ungues · plural unguises

  1. biologyThe nail, claw, talon, or hoof of a finger, toe, or other appendage.

    Synonyms: onychium

  2. One of the terminal hooks on the foot of an insect.
  3. biologyThe slender base of a petal in some flowers; a claw; an ungula.
  4. historicalAn old measure equal to the length of the nail of the little finger.

Synonyms & antonyms

nounThe nail, claw, talon, or hoof of a finger, toe, or other appendage.

Similar
onychium

More synonyms by meaning

nounany rigid body structure composed primarily of keratin

Similar
horny structure
Broader
structureanatomical structurecomplex body part
Also see
nailungula

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Origin

  1. Latinunguis“nail, claw, hoof”
  2. Englishunguis

From Latin unguis (“nail, claw, hoof”). Doublet of onyx.

More words from Latin

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

unguis. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/unguis

MLA

“unguis.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/unguis. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “unguis,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/unguis.

Source: unguis on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.