pinion Hear it!

pinion¹ Definition

pin·ion (pin′yən)

noun

a small gear, the teeth of which fit into those of a larger gear or those of a rack

Etymology: Fr pignon < VL *pinnio < L pinna, bucket of a paddle wheel, lit., feather, var. of penna (see pen): assoc. in MFr with peigner, to comb: see peignoir

pinion² Definition

pin·ion (pin′yən)

noun

  1. the last bony section of a bird's wing
  2. Old Poet. a wing
  3. Old Poet. any wing feather

Etymology: ME pynyon < OFr pignon, var. of penon < L pinna, penna: see pen

transitive verb

  1. to cut off or bind the pinions of (a bird) to keep it from flying
  2. to bind (the wings)
  3. to disable or impede by binding the arms of
  4. to confine or shackle

pinion Synonyms

pinion

n.

feather, wing, pin feather; see feather.

pinion Synonyms

pinion

v.

bind, shackle, confine, fetter; see bind 1.

pinion Usage Examples

Object

  • arm: The irons were now removed from Bumpus's wrists, and his arms pinioned behind his back.
  • system: Focus is by pillar adjustment for coarse movement with a rack and pinion fine focus system.

Converse of object

drive: The second wheel drives a pinion on the spindle of the " escape wheel " which turns once in 80 seconds.

Preposition: on

shaft: A spur wheel on the end of the crankshaft is driven by a pinion on the motor shaft.

Adjective modifier

  • small: A small pinion at the base of the wiper meshes with a sliding rack below.
  • central: This is achieved by having two hands on the central pinion in semi circle sub registers.

Modifies a noun

  • steering: The original Morris Minor rack and pinion steering has been retained throughout, and is still in perfect working order.
  • shaft: Finally, two cylindrical roller bearings in contact with a four point contact ball bearing form the pinion shaft bearing supports of the drive.
  • gear: The opposing Bourdon tubes are linked to a single pinion gear which rotates a pointer for direct pressure readings.
  • bearing: Finally, two cylindrical roller bearings in contact with a four point contact ball bearing form the pinion shaft bearing supports of the drive.
  • railroad: Snowdon Mountain Railroad is the only public rack and pinion railroad in the UK.
  • mechanism: On rack and pinion mechanisms, set the safety catch before starting to wind a paddle.

Modifying Another Word

not: At this time, the prisoner's legs were not pinioned.

Noun used with modifier

  • 9z: Technical data: 27z aluminum crown, 9z bronze pinion, detailed hubcaps, steel calibrate axles and bronze calibrate bearings.
  • bevel: Among the pieces missing was the lower spiral bevel pinion.
  • bronze: Technical data: 27z aluminum crown, 9z bronze pinion, detailed hubcaps, steel calibrate axles and bronze calibrate bearings.
  • O: This powerfully argued legal O pinion from one of Wales ' most respected barristers blows that claim right out of the water.
  • tooth: All steel gears, 50:1 ratio when motor is fitted with 10 tooth pinion ( supplied ).
  • drive: This allowed the drive pinion to fall into the sump causing a large fracture through which the oil escaped.

Present participle complement

focus: Although not rack and pinion focusing, there is a screw that is turned to move the tube assembly up or down for focusing.