Avalux
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Fri Aug-15-03 10:54 PM
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why are fingernails and toenails called "nails"? Where did the name come from, and which came first, bodily or carpentry (you know, the kind you pound with a hammer)? I'm perplexed.
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short bus president
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Fri Aug-15-03 11:01 PM
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1. in terms of existence, |
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clearly the bodily nails came first. In terms of nomenclature, you got me. :shrug:
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liberalhistorian
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Fri Aug-15-03 11:16 PM
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2. LOL, we're really thinking of deep, |
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philosophical questions of univeral meaning tonight, aren't we?
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Fenris
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Fri Aug-15-03 11:30 PM
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3. Probably originated from the German "Nagel" |
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Which, of course, when combined with "Finger" becomes "Fingernagel."
Really, I have no clue which came first. Either seems logical. I tend to think that the carpentry term came first, then "Fingernail" replaced whatever archaic German word was used to describe that part of the body, perhaps because of its hard, tough feel.
:shrug:
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Avalux
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Sat Aug-16-03 12:12 AM
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good logical explanation. Hey - is that Morrissey?
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Fri May 03rd 2024, 01:50 PM
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