desclavar

to take the nail out of

desclavar

transitive verb

1. (to remove the nails from)

a. to take the nail out of

La lona está clavada a la tabla. - Pues desclávala y quitála.

The canvas is nailed to the board. - Well, then take the nails out it and remove it.

b. to pull the nails out of

Tenemos que desclavar las tablas del suelo antes de quitarlas.

We need to pull the nails out of the floorboards before removing them.

c. to unnail

No desclaves ese extremo de la tabla, o se va a caer y le va a pegar a alguien.

Don't unnail that end of the board, or it’s going to come down and hit someone.

2. (to remove something that's nailed to a surface)

a. to pull out

Desclavé la tabla de un tirón y enseguida vi el pequeño cofre que había escondido Eloy debajo de ella.

I pulled out the board in one pull, and I immediately saw the little chest that Eloy had hidden under it.

b. to take off

Quiero desclavar el lienzo del bastidor sin dañarlo.

I want to take the canvas off the stretcher without damaging it.

c. to unnail

Necesité de toda mi fuerza para desclavar el tablón de la cerca.

It took all my strength to unnail the plank from the fence.