Hangnail (noun)

A small, torn piece of skin or nail that hangs off the side of the finger or toe, usually caused by dry skin or biting of nails.

Origin:

The word hangnail is a combination of "hang" and "nail" and refers to a small, torn piece of skin or nail that hangs off the side of the finger or toe. this is usually caused by dry skin or biting of nails, it can be painful and often leads to infection if not properly treated.

Examples:

1. She had a painful hangnail on her thumb.
2. He had to be careful not to tear the hangnail.
3. The hangnail was caused by biting her nails.
4. The hangnail can become infected if not properly treated.
5. The hangnail was trimmed with a pair of scissors.