I. ˈpen noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English, from Old English penn
1.
a. : a small enclosure for animals ; also : the animals in one such enclosure
erected a pen for the calves
or enough to fill one
stole a whole pen of sheep
b. : a specified number of animals entered in an exhibition as a unit
a pen of one cock and four hens
c. : a number of animals regarded as a suitable breeding unit whether kept together or not
start with a pen of one buck and 10 does
2. : a device to dam the water in a stream : dam
3. : any small place of confinement or storage: as
a. : bullpen 1
b. : playpen
4. Jamaica : a farm where livestock is bred and raised
5.
a. : a berthing area for small ships or boats formed by enclosing piers or jetties
b. : a dock or slip for reconditioning submarines that is protected against aerial bombs by a superstructure of thick concrete
6. : a hollow square crib of pulpwood stacked for storage
II. transitive verb
( penned ; penned ; penning ; pens )
Etymology: Middle English pennen, from Old English -pennian, from penn pen
1. : to shut in or as if in a pen : place in an enclosure to prevent straying : confine in a restricted location
pens the sheep in the barnyard
a convalescent child penned up in a house
the individual's being so bafflingly penned within himself — W.M.Frohock
2. : to exhibit (as rabbits, poultry) in pens : arrange a show of penned animals
Synonyms: see enclose
III. noun
( -s )
Usage: often attributive
Etymology: Middle English penne, from Middle French, feather, wing, pen, from Latin pinna, alteration of penna feather, wing; akin to Greek pteron wing, feather — more at feather
1. archaic
a. : feather
b. pens plural : pinions, wings
c. : quill 2a(1)
2. : an implement for writing or drawing with ink or a similar fluid:
a. : quill 3a
b. : a small thin convex metal device tapering to a split point and fitting into a holder for writing and drawing with ink or a similar fluid — called also nib ; see stub
c. : a penholder (as of wood) containing a pen
d. : any of various similar implements (as a fountain pen, ball-point pen, ruling pen)
3.
a. : a writing instrument regarded as a means of expression (as of thoughts, feelings)
lived by his pen
verses from her pen had been published in the … newspapers — H.E.Starr
enlisted the pens of the best writers — F.H.Chase
such a scene as no pen can describe — Irish Digest
b. : a manner of style of writing
his vivid pen gave a truthful picture of the Southern capital — J.S.Wilson b. 1880
c. : writer
4. : pinfeather
5. : the internal horny feather-shaped shell of a squid — called also gladius
IV. transitive verb
( penned ; penned ; penning ; pens )
Etymology: Middle English pennen, from penne pen
: write:
a. : to record in writing in proper form
a minute was penned that the Corporation might pay … the cost — Crompton & Royton Chronicle
b. : to compose and commit to paper
pen a letter
the best novel he ever penned
c. : to write with a pen
Salesman A pens angular letters — H.O.Teltscher
V. noun
( -s )
Etymology: origin unknown
: a female swan — compare cob III 2
VI. noun
( -s )
Etymology: by shortening
slang : penitentiary
VII. abbreviation
1. penetration
2. peninsula
3. penitent