tenpenny nail

noun

: a nail three inches (7.6 centimeters) long

Word History

Etymology

from its original price per hundred

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of tenpenny nail was in the 15th century

Rhymes for tenpenny nail

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Browse Nearby Words

tenpenny
tenpenny nail
ten-percenter
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Cite this Entry

“Tenpenny nail.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tenpenny%20nail. Accessed 9 Jul. 2025.

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Kids Definition

tenpenny nail

noun
ten·​pen·​ny nail
ten-ˌpen-ē-
: a nail three inches (about 7.6 centimeters) long
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