little toenail

Noun

little toenail (plural little toenails)

1. The nail of the little toe.
   • E. W. Hays, Box 636, hit a chair with his foot, knocking his right little toenail loose.1966 June 15, “6 Emergencies Get Treatment”, in Corsicana Daily Sun, volume 70, number 290, Corsicana, Tex., →ISSN, →OCLC, page 4, column 4
   • Bench said he lost both little toenails to foul tips and half of both of his big toenails.1977 March 1, Tom McEwen, “On Divorce Proceedings, Salary Desires: Mum’s the Word for [Johnny] Bench”, in The Tampa Tribune, 83rd year, number 50, Tampa, Fla., →ISSN, →OCLC, page 4-C, column 5
2. Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see little, toenail.
   • With his eyes closed, Al could hear her drop the pinecone rhythmically on the tile, chock chock chock chock, the bass, her little toenails clicking a tune around it. Didn’t he deserve a really big horse?2000 April 6, Jane Smiley, “Jack Russell”, in Horse Heaven, New York, N.Y.: Alfred A. Knopf, →ISBN, page 13