treenail

or tre·nail, trun·nel

[ tree-neyl, tren-l, truhn-l ]

noun

1. a wooden pin that swells when moist, used for fastening together timbers, as those of ships.

treenail

/ ˈtrʌnəl; ˈtriːneɪl; ˈtrɛnəl /

noun

1. a dowel used for pinning planks or timbers together

Word History and Origins

Origin of treenail¹

First recorded in 1250–1300, treenail is from the Middle English word trenayl. See tree, nail

Example Sentences

For instance, it’s held together by large treenails, wooden pegs usually made of dry compressed timber, and copper pegs, which he said was common in ships of that era.

From New York Times

The wreck at Thorpeness appeared to be held together with wooden "treenails", or pins, a technique that dates from the 13th Century to the 19th Century, Mr Sherman said.

From BBC

They had only two sledges; both were made of 2½ inch oak-planks, devoid of bolt-holes or treenails, and having but very few nail-holes.

From Project Gutenberg

For instance, Dr. Riess said, he has found far more iron nails than he would have expected of a ship from this era, and far fewer of the wood fasteners called treenails, or trunnels.

From New York Times

A year was added for hardwood treenails, and another for 'salting on the stocks.'

From Project Gutenberg