nail-kegn.
/ˈneɪlˌkɛɡ/, U.S. /ˈneɪlˌkɛɡ/ Originally and chiefly U.S.† 2. A hat of a similar shape to such a barrel. Obsolete.
1. A small barrel for nails.
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society > occupation and work > equipment > receptacle or container > vessel > barrel or cask > [noun] > for specific contents
meal fat1360
butter barrel1608
beer-barrel1753
water breaker1834
blubber-cask1835
nail-keg1837
1837 Exhib. & Fair Mass. Charitable Mech. Assoc. 140 Adams & Powers, Townsend. Three Nail Kegs. Very good quality.
1850 Sci. Amer. Feb. 175/1 We are unable at present to tell you who has nail keg machinery for sale.
1869 J. R. Browne Adv. Apache Country 402 Adobe-bricks, mud..whiskey-barrels, nail-kegs, and even canvas, are the component parts [of chimneys].
1905 K. D. Wiggin Rose o' River 65 You can't drownd a Wiley, not without you tie nail-kags to their head an' feet an' drop 'em in the falls.
1947 K. Patchen See you in Morning 38 Sitting out front on a nailkeg whittling in the sun there'd been a very tall, skinny man.
1987 L. A. Murray Daylight Moon (1988) 9 The Highland immigrants on deck, keep a hand, or a foot, on their bundles and nail-kegs.
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the world > textiles and clothing > clothing > types or styles of clothing > headgear > [noun] > hat > tall > cylindrical
nail-keg1867
sugarallie hat1887
1865 Harper's Mag. Apr. 560/2 The effect is more singular from..the entire similarity of the male costume to our own, including the stove-pipe or nail-keg hat.]
1867 W. W. Brown Negro in Amer. Rebellion 375 Well, you had better notice it..or I'll blow half dat nail-kag off!
1869 ‘M. Twain’ Innocents Abroad xxvi. 269 They wear a conical hat termed a ‘nail-kag’.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2003; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.1837