treenail

noun

tree·​nail ˈtrə-nᵊl How to pronounce treenail (audio)
variants or trunnel or less commonly trenail
: a wooden peg made usually of dry compressed timber so as to swell in its hole when moistened

Word History

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of treenail was in the 13th century

Dictionary Entries Near treenail

Cite this Entry

“Treenail.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/treenail. Accessed 26 Nov. 2024.

More from Merriam-Webster on treenail

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!