Signs for FINGERNAIL

How do you express 'fingernail' in American Sign Language (ASL)? Plus, more related words blended in a funny story.

Meaning (classifier): the nail at the end of a finger.

Pronunciation (sign description): Dominant, slightly bent "U" (or loose "N") hand on top of the non-dominant fingernail of the forefinger moves slightly forward once.

Or, one can point to the fingernail, depending on contexts.

Parts of the fingernail: LUNULA, CUTICLE.

Related signs

Ug was the first caveman to accessorize their FINGERS with iron rings and then fingernails. Until that day, humans had either just let them grow into CLAWS or they would chew them down in anxious NAIL-BITING fits. There weren't NAIL CLIPPERS back then so they would have to FILE their nails on rocks or break them under the foot of a mastodon (the extinct elephant) if they wanted a TRIM. As innovative as he was, Ug filed a clam with the file. So, he could clamp down on his nail and CLIP it clean. This was the first time anyone had managed to CUT their nails. The others followed suit. Before you knew it, Ug opened up a SALON where cavemen from his tribe could get their CUTICLES clipped and nails styled with NAIL POLISH. You had one choice in color… brown made of mud. Ug's clan was defeated by a tribe who put their focus into inventing spears, but at least they looked dazzling going out!

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