Unnail

v. [UN-² 3. Cf. MDu. ontnaghelen (Du. -nagelen), OHG. innagalen (G. entnageln).]

  1.  trans. To undo or unfasten in structure by the extraction or removal of nails.

1470–85.  Malory, Arthur, II. xviii. 97. Their hawberkes vnnailled that naked they were on euery syde.

1523.  Ld. Berners, Froiss., I. ccccxii. 718. They made all y^e bridge to be vnnayled, redy to be broken downe.

1595.  Caxton’s Blanchardyn, B ij. Vnnayling his armor…, he sent him to carry newes of Blanchardines valure.

1704.  trans. I. le Fevre’s Memoir, 87. The Almoner … caus’d the Coffin to be unnail’d again.

1884.  Stevenson, in St. James’s Gaz., 10 April (1899), 4/2. If we do possess these opposite gifts, we must unnail the scaffolding.

  2.  To free (artillery) from being spiked.

1562.  Whitehorne, Ord. Souldiours, 34. The spediest way to vnnaile them, is firste to charge againe all such peses of artillerie, with smaller bullettes then their ordinarie.

  3.  To detach or unfasten from something by the removal of nails.

1598.  Rowlands, Betraying of Christ, 55. Hands and feet they carefull did vn-naile, Letting the body downe.

1668.  Evelyn, trans. Freart’s Idea Perf. Paint., 51. At the foot … stands the B. Virgin,… whiles Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus un-nail our Lord.

1683.  Moxon, Mech. Exerc., Printing, xxiv. ¶ 3. He cannot alter the position of the Rounce without un-nailing and nailing the Girts again.

1797.  Trans. Soc. Arts, XV. 256. This is done by unnailing from the board a part on each side.

1846.  Landor, Exam. Shaks., Wks. II. 273/2. Having … unnailed from our chapels, many dozens of decent saints.

1858.  Glenny, Gard. Every-day Bk., 19/1. We must think it no trouble to unnail even large branches.

  absol.  1683.  Moxon, Mech. Exerc., Printing, xxiv. 278. The Press-man, without nailing or un-nailing, Sets the Rounce to what Position he will.

  Hence Unnailing vbl. sb.

1622.  Mabbe, trans. Aleman’s Guzman d’Alf., II. 258. Even to the vnnayling from heaven, of the Sunne, and the Moone.

1756.  Nugent, Gr. Tour, France, IV. 99. A picture of the unnailing from the cross,… which is greatly admired.