Here’s just a little fun mid-week post about something I’ve been thinking about: Who hasn’t used the phrase “Dead as a doornail” at some point in their life? And how many of us actually know where the term comes from? That’s what I thought.
Well, as it turns out, we may have medieval carpenters to thank for the phrase. “Dead as a doornail” goes back to the 14th century when doornails were as common as…well…doors.
In the days before screws, carpenters would hammer a nail through a piece of wood and then flatten the end over (a technique called clinching) to keep the nail securely attached. When this is done, the nail is said to be “dead” because it cannot be used again. Doornails were often subjected to this type of treatment. And. because of the heft of these old doors, doornails were quite large and visible. The saying eventually spread outside the carpenter’s shops and stuck partly because of its truth, and partly because it’s just so darn fun to say.
What other sayings do you know that can be attributed to old houses or construction?
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I love old houses, working with my hands, and teaching others the excitment of doing it yourself! Everything is teachable if you only give it the chance.
Thanks for writing this, Scott! I love old nails, and I love the memes that have been handed down from earlier times. In the link I’d sent you, I’ve found origins for “to and fro”, “dead as a door nail” (similar to what you’ve outlined here), “one fell swoop”, “basement”, and “square peg in a round hole”.
Speaking of old nailed doors, I’m planning to build a few board and batten style doors using clinch nails, just for the heck of it. I like the traditional clinch steel nails and wrought nails made by Tremont. But I might check out a few blacksmiths, too, to see if I can get those really large iron nails like you have in your photo above. Old tools and old ways of doing things rock. Like you, I’m totally obsessed with much of this stuff.
That’s a good one! Some other good ones are, going against the grain, stiff as a board, hard as nails. Carpenter have it hard hahaha!
Good ones Daniel!