I. ˈpin noun
Etymology: Middle English, from Old English pinn (akin to Old High German pfinn peg), perhaps from Latin pinna quill, feather — more at pen
Date: before 12th century
1.
a. : a piece of solid material (as wood or metal) used especially for fastening things together or as a support by which one thing may be suspended from another
b. obsolete : the center peg of a target ; also : the center itself
c. : something that resembles a pin especially in slender elongated form
an electrical connector pin
d.
(1) : one of the pieces constituting the target in various games (as bowling)
(2) : the peg at which a quoit is pitched
(3) : the staff of the flag marking a hole on a golf course
e. : a peg for regulating the tension of the strings of a musical instrument
f. : the part of a key stem that enters a lock
g. : a belaying pin
2.
a.
(1) : a very thin small pointed metal pin with a head used especially for fastening cloth
(2) : little , trifle
bother them all! I don't care a pin about them — Bram Stoker
b. : an ornament or emblem fastened to clothing with a pin
c.
(1) : bobby pin
(2) : hairpin
(3) : safety pin
3. : leg — usually used in plural
wobbly on his pin s
4. : a fall in wrestling
II. transitive verb
( pinned ; pin·ning )
Date: 14th century
1.
a. : to fasten, join, or secure with a pin
b. : to hold fast or immobile
c. : to present (a young woman) with a fraternity pin as a pledge of affection
2.
a. : fasten
pinned his hopes on a miracle
pin the blame on someone else
b. : to assign the blame or responsibility for
pin the robbery on a night watchman
c. : to define or determine clearly or precisely — usually used with down
it is hard to pin down exactly when things changed — Katharine Whittemore
3.
a. : to make (a chess opponent's piece) unable to move without exposing the king to check or a valuable piece to capture
b. of a wrestler : to secure a fall over (an opponent)
III. adjective
Date: 1523
1. : of or relating to a pin
2. of leather : having a grain suggesting the heads of pins