I. ˈpinyən noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English pynyon, from Middle French pignon, from Old French, probably from pignon, penon pennon — more at pennon
1.
a. : the distal part of a bird's wing including the carpus, metacarpus, and phalanges
b. : wing
c. : flight feather , quill ; also : the flight feathers
2. : the anterior border of an insect's wing
II. transitive verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
1. : to restrain (a bird) from flight:
a. : to bind or confine the wings of
b. : to confine by binding the wings of
c. : to cut off the distal joint of one wing of
2.
a. : to disable or restrain by binding the arms usually to the body
bodyguards had pinioned his attacker — Hodding Carter
b. : to disable or restrain a person by so binding (the arms)
3. : to bind fast : shackle
this frame … which now is pinioned with mortality — George Herbert
III. “, (ˈ)pēn|yōn noun
( -s )
Etymology: Spanish piñón pine nut, physic nut — more at piñon
1. : physic nut
2.
[American Spanish piñón, from Spanish]
: piñon
IV. noun
( -s )
Etymology: French pignon, from Middle French, alteration of peignon, from peigne comb. from Latin pecten — more at pectinate
1. : a gear with a small number of teeth designed to mesh with a larger wheel or rack
2. : the smaller wheel of a pair or the smallest of a train or set of gear wheels