frost-nailn.
/ˈfrɒs(t)neɪl/, U.S. /ˈfrɔs(t)ˌneɪl/, /ˈfrɑs(t)ˌneɪl/ Farriery. Now somewhat rare and chiefly historical.
A nail with a large sharp head, inserted into a horseshoe in place of a regular nail to provide extra traction in frosty conditions.
ΘΚΠ
the world > food and drink > farming > animal husbandry > keeping or management of horses > shoeing of horses > [noun] > horseshoe > nail or stud
frost-nail1339
horseshoe-nail1415
horse-nail1598
talon-nail1688
toenail1841
nail-stub1851
frost stud1864
frost cog1867
rougha1884
1339 in J. T. Fowler Extracts Acct. Rolls Abbey of Durham (1899) II. 535 (MED) Marescalcia..in 1300 frostnaill empt.
1373 in J. T. Fowler Extracts Acct. Rolls Abbey of Durham (1901) III. 577 (MED) Frost-naill.
1510 Rentale Dunkeldense f. 77v In reparacione selle de lie harnes..et frost nales.
1566 T. Blundeville True Arte Paring & Shooyng xxix. f. 11v, in Fower Offices Horsemanshippe Calkins, frost nayles, crests, spurres and all suche lyke deuyses, as are often vsed by the ignoraunt sorte, to kepe their horses from slyding.
1611 R. Cotgrave Dict. French & Eng. Tongues Ferré a glace, shod with frost-nayles.
1664 in W. M. Myddelton Chirk Castle Accts. (1908) I. 121 Paid..for frost-nayles at Chester.
1755 Universal Mag. June 272/2 The same horse, being shod in this manner, and only two frost nails at the toe, went firm and sure even upon the ice.
1841 Repealer Repulsed 14 We protest against the slippery state of the roads being alleged as an excuse, so long as there is a smith in the kingdom to put into the horse's shoes a few extra ‘frost nails’.
1885 J. G. Wood Horse & Man x. 169 I can gallop ‘Stella’ on a road covered with ice, when other horses are not safe even with the use of frost nails.
1926 Times 17 June 6/6 The number of ponies badly injured last season owing to the use of frost-nails and screws fitted to the shoes of other ponies.
2004 W. Hobson tr. P. Rambaud Retreat (2005) 174 We have, thank heaven, two horses shoed with frost-nails.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, March 2015; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
frost-nailv.
/ˈfrɒs(t)neɪl/, U.S. /ˈfrɔs(t)ˌneɪl/, /ˈfrɑs(t)ˌneɪl/ Now rare (archaic in later use).
transitive. To equip (a horse) with horseshoes which are fitted with frost-nails. Also with the horse's rider as object. In later use usually in passive. Cf. frost v. 1.
ΘΚΠ
the world > food and drink > farming > animal husbandry > keeping or management of horses > shoeing of horses > shoe [verb (transitive)] > put in frost-nails
frost1572
frost-nail1594
calk1624
rough1792
sharp1841
roughen1864
sharpen1897
1594 H. Plat Diuers Chimicall Concl. Distillation 26 in Jewell House If I slip, you shall see how I will frostnayle my selfe the nexte time that I ride abroade.
1634 T. Carew Cœlum Britanicum 8 Uulcan was..fined, for..frost-nailing his horses,..for breach of a penall Statute prohibiting worke upon Holydayes.
1673 London Gaz. No. 753/3 His Highness hath caused all the Horse of his Guard to be Frost-nailed.
1796 T. Haweis Three Kings 151 The frost was so sharp, they were obliged to wait till their horses were sent to a smith to be frost nailed.
1891 County Gentleman 17 Jan. 87/3 Mr. Canning had his horses frost-nailed, and spun a fox across the snow.
2009 G. I. Gilman Cloud & Ashes 350 Frost-nailed though she was, Rianty'd stumbled.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, March 2015; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.1339v.1594