I. ˈpen transitive verb
( penned ; pen·ning )
Etymology: Middle English pennen, from Old English -pennian
Date: 13th century
: to shut in or as if in a pen
II. noun
Etymology: Middle English, perhaps from pennen
Date: 14th century
1.
a. : a small enclosure for animals
b. : the animals in a pen
a pen of sheep
2. : a small place of confinement or storage
3. : a protected dock or slip for a submarine
4. : bull pen 2
III. noun
Etymology: Middle English penne, from Anglo-French, feather, pen, from Latin penna, pinna feather; akin to Greek pteron wing — more at feather
Date: 14th century
1. : an implement for writing or drawing with ink or a similar fluid: as
a. : quill
b. : pen point
c. : a penholder containing a pen point
d. : fountain pen
e. : ballpoint
2.
a. : a writing instrument regarded as a means of expression
enlisted the pen s of the best writers — F. H. Chase
b. : writer
3. : the internal horny feather-shaped shell of a squid
4. : stylus d
IV. transitive verb
( penned ; pen·ning )
Date: 15th century
: write , indite
pen a letter
V. noun
Etymology: origin unknown
Date: circa 1550
: a female swan
VI. noun
Date: 1884
: penitentiary
VII. abbreviation
peninsula