noun
- large-headed nails formerly used to strengthen doors
Usage: archaic; historical
Examples
- The old castle door was reinforced with heavy doornails.
- Medieval craftsmen hammered doornails into wooden doors for extra strength.
- The phrase ‘dead as a doornail’ refers to these old-fashioned nails.
- Antique doors often featured decorative doornails arranged in patterns.
- The blacksmith forged doornails with large, flat heads.
- Restoration experts replaced the missing doornails on the historic gate.