pinion 1
— pinionless , adj. — pinionlike , adj.
/pin"yeuhn/ , n.
1. Mach.
a. a gear with a small number of teeth, esp. one engaging with a rack or larger gear. See diag. under rack 1 .
b. a shaft or spindle cut with teeth engaging with a gear.
2. Metalworking. a gear driving a roll in a rolling mill.
[ 1650-60; pignon cogwheel, MF peignon, deriv. of peigne comb, var. of pigne pectin- (s. of pecten ) comb; see PECTEN ]
pinion 2
/pin"yeuhn/ , n.
1. the distal or terminal segment of the wing of a bird consisting of the carpus, metacarpus, and phalanges.
2. the wing of a bird.
3. a feather.
4. the flight feathers collectively.
v.t.
5. to cut off the pinion of (a wing) or bind (the wings), as in order to prevent a bird from flying.
6. to disable or restrain (a bird) in such a manner.
7. to bind (a person's arms or hands) so they cannot be used.
8. to disable (someone) in such a manner; shackle.
9. to bind or hold fast, as to a thing: to be pinioned to one's bad habits.
[ 1400-50; late ME pynyon pignon wing, pinion pinnion (s. of pinnio ), deriv. of L pinna feather, wing, fin ]