pin

/pin/, n., v., pinned, pinning.

n.

1. a small, slender, often pointed piece of wood, metal, etc., used to fasten, support, or attach things.

2. a short, slender piece of wire with a point at one end and a head at the other, for fastening things together.

3. any of various forms of fasteners or ornaments consisting essentially or partly of a pointed or penetrating wire or shaft (often used in combination): a jeweled pin.

4. a badge having a pointed bar or pin attached, by which it is fastened to the clothing: a fraternity pin.

5. Mach.

a. a short metal rod, as a linchpin, driven through holes in adjacent parts, as a hub and an axle, to keep the parts together.

b. a short cylindrical rod or tube, as a wrist pin or crankpin, joining two parts so as to permit them to move in one plane relative to each other.

c. a short axle, as one on which a pulley rotates in a block.

6. the part of a cylindrical key stem entering a lock.

7. a clothespin.

8. a hairpin.

9. See rolling pin.

10. a peg, nail, or stud marking the center of a target.

11. Bowling. any one of the rounded wooden clubs set up as the target in tenpins, ninepins, duckpins, etc.

12. Golf. the flag staff which identifies a hole.

13. any of the projecting knobs or rails on a pinball machine that serve as targets for the ball.

14. Informal. a human leg.

15. Music. peg (def. 5).

16. Wrestling. a fall.

17. Naut.

a. an axle for a sheave of a block.

b. See belaying pin.

18. Carpentry. a tenon in a dovetail joint; dovetail.

19. a very small amount; a trifle: Such insincere advice isn't worth a pin.

20. Chess. the immobilization of an enemy piece by attacking with one's queen, rook, or bishop.

21. Electronics. a pin-shaped connection, as the terminals on the base of an electron tube or the connections on an integrated circuit.

22. pull the pin, Informal. to end a relationship, project, program, or the like, because of lack of continuing interest, success, funds, etc.

v.t.

23. to fasten or attach with or as with a pin or pins: to pin two pieces of cloth together.

24. to hold fast in a spot or position (sometimes fol. by down): The debris pinned him down.

25. to transfix or mount with a pin or the like: to pin a flower as a botanical specimen.

26. Chess. to immobilize (an enemy piece) by placing one's queen, rook, or bishop in a position to check the exposed king or capture a valuable piece if the pinned piece were moved.

27. Wrestling. to secure a fall over one's opponent.

28. get pinned,

a. (of a young woman) to receive a male student's fraternity pin as a symbol of his affection and fidelity, usually symbolizing that the couple is going steady or plans to become engaged.

b. (of a young couple) to become formally pledged to one another, though not yet engaged, by the bestowing of such a pin or the exchange of pins.

29. pin down,

a. to bind or hold to a course of action, a promise, etc.

b. to force (someone) to deal with a situation or to come to a decision: We tried to pin him down for a definite answer, but he was too evasive for us.

30. pin in, to fill (gaps in a rubble wall, etc.) with spalls.

31. pin something on someone, Informal. to ascribe the blame or guilt for something to a person; show someone to be culpable: They pinned the crime on him.

32. pin up, to make (a piece of masonry) level or plumb with wedges.

[bef. 1100; (n.) ME pinne, OE pinn peg; c. D pin, G Pinne, ON pinni; perh. < L pinna feather, quill (see PINNA); (v.) ME pinnen, deriv. of the n.]

Syn. 1. bolt, peg. 3. brooch.

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(as used in expressions)

Ha erh pin

I pin

pin fastener

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▪ fastener

      the small, pointed and headed piece of stiff wire used to secure clothing or papers. In mechanical and civil engineering the term pin, or more properly pin fastener, designates a peg- or boltlike device designed to fasten machine and structural components together or to keep them properly aligned.

      Bronze pins 2 to 8 inches (5 to 20 cm) long with gold heads or decorative gold bands have been found in ancient Egyptian tombs. The Greeks and Romans used pins or brooches similar to the safety pin for fastening their clothing. In medieval Europe, skewers of wood, bone, ivory, silver, gold, or brass were used, elaborately fashioned for persons of wealth and simply made of wood for common people. By the end of the 15th century the manufacture of pins from drawn iron wire was well established, particularly in France.

      Pinmaking machines were introduced early in the 19th century. In New York John Ireland Howe founded a successful factory with his improved machines, while in 1838 in Birmingham, Eng., Daniel Foot-Tayler profitably applied the pinmaking patent (1824) of Lemuel W. Wright. Subsequently many pinmaking machines were developed, including devices for thrusting finished pins through crimped papers. Modern machines are completely automatic.

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