- a peg of wood, metal, etc., used esp. for fastening or holding things together or as a support on which to hang things
- a little piece of stiff wire with a pointed end and a flattened or rounded head, used for fastening things together or holding them in place; straight pin
- something worthless or insignificant; trifle
- a pointed instrument for holding the hair, a hat, etc. in place
- clothespin, safety pin, cotter pin, etc.
- anything like a pin in form, use, etc.
- an ornament, badge, or emblem having a pin or clasp with which it is fastened to the clothing
- Informal the leg: usually used in pl.
- Bowling any of the bottle-shaped pieces of wood, or wood coated with plastic, at which the ball is rolled
- Golf a pole with a flag attached, placed in the hole of a green to mark its location
- Med. a metal rod used to hold a broken bone together
- Music any of the pegs for regulating the tension of the strings of a piano, harp, etc.
- Naut.
- thole
- any of various pegs or rods used to secure ropes
- Wrestling fall (noun)
Origin of pin
Middle English pyn from Old English pinn, akin to Middle High German pfinne, a nail, probably from Indo-European base an unverified form bend-, projecting point from source Middle Irish benn, peaktransitive verb
pinned, pin′ning- to fasten with or as with a pin
- to pierce with a pin
- to hold firmly in one place or position
- Slang to give one's fraternity pin to, as an informal token of betrothal
pin Idioms
pin down
- to get (someone) to make a decision, commitment, etc.
- to determine or confirm (a fact, details, etc.)
pin someone's ears back
Informal to beat, defeat, or scold someone soundly
pin something on someone
Informal to lay the blame for something on someone
