[pin.ion] n [ME, fr. MF pignon, fr. (assumed) VL pinnion-, pinnio, fr. L pinna feather--more at pen] (15c) 1: the terminal section of a bird's wing including the carpus, metacarpus, and phalanges; broadly: wing
2: feather, quill; also: flight feathers -- pin.ioned adj
[2]pinion vt (1558) 1 a: to disable or restrain by binding the arms b: to bind fast: shackle
2: to restrain (a bird) from flight esp. by cutting off the pinion of one wing [3]pinion n [F pignon, fr. MF peignon, fr. peigne comb, fr. L pecten--more at pectinate] (1659) 1: a gear with a small number of teeth designed to mesh with a larger wheel or rack
2: the smaller of a pair or the smallest of a train of gear wheels