ungual

[prettygoodword]

ungual (UHNG-gwuhl) - adj., pertaining to, bearing, or resembling a nail, claw, or hoof.


I admit I'm curious how the resembling sense is useful for things so differently shaped as a claw and a hoof, but enough dictionaries include it I am as well. The claw part, btw, also covers talons -- I mean, that's a default for claw, but it seemed worth making that explicit. Coined around 1830 from Latin unguis, nail/claw/hoof, which has the same PIE root *h₃negʰ-, nail (of finger/toe) as English nail.

---L.

Comments

[falkner]

I wonder if it's a language thing (or just how often the word itself is used in day to day life?), because to me it makes perfect sense! But as an extra fun language tidbit, I feel like the word in Italian, which is very similar: ungueale, has a tiny negative connotation in my mind, as the place I heard it the most is toenail fungus remedy commercials...

[prettygoodword]

I'm pretty sure ungueale is from the same Latin root. Can't help you with that connotation, though. 😂

[dhampyresa]

I'm curious how the resembling sense is useful for things so differently shaped as a claw and a hoof

Made of keratin?

[prettygoodword]

Some definitions were specifically "in the shape of" -- so that sense of "resembling."

[full_metal_ox]

I’ve recently been following two cow hoof care specialists who post on YouTube, and “claw” is precisely the term both these guys (one Scottish and one American) use for the keratinous toe-halves of a cow’s foot.

On the off chance that you’re interested:

https://www.youtube.com/@TheHoofGP/featured

https://www.youtube.com/@NatetheHoofGuy

[prettygoodword]

Innnnteresting!