eightpenny nail
- noun
- /ˈeɪtˌpɛni neɪl/
- Specialized
:
clavo de ocho peniques
- The carpenter used an eightpenny nail to secure the boards together.
Examples
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She hammered an eightpenny nail into the frame to hold it in place.
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I bought some eightpenny nails for the project.
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You will need an eightpenny nail for this part of the project.
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An eightpenny nail is essential for framing.
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The carpenter used an eightpenny nail to secure the boards together.
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You will need an eightpenny nail for this part of the project.
-
She hammered an eightpenny nail into the frame to hold it in place.
Synonyms
460
7.8
A small thin nail with a raised head used to hold thin pieces of wood together
8
9.9
A large heavy nail used to hold and decorate old wooden doors
1
6.4
A nail about three inches long used for holding pieces of wood together
A nail about two inches long used in carpentry
A small metal pin about one and a half inches long that holds pieces of wood together
A small nail used to hold leather or thin wood
A short nail with a large flat head to fasten thin metal to wood
A short thick metal spike used to hold things when length is not needed
How Long
- Specialized
1
6.4
- Specialized
- Specialized
- Specialized
Surface Forms
Morphology
The adjective 'eightpenny' is a conventional trade-size term indicating a specific nail length (historically tied to a price-based sizing system), which is not transparently derived from the literal words 'eight' + 'penny'. A B1 learner who knows the constituents would likely interpret it as relating to price or number rather than a fixed 2.5-inch length, so the meaning cannot be reliably inferred without prior exposure or specialist knowledge.
Etymology
The noun eightpenny nail may come from an old trade rule: the part penny showed how many pennies were paid for one hundred nails, so an eight penny nail cost eight pennies per hundred. That's why eightpenny nail today means 'a nail about 2.5 inches long'.