Pin \Pin\, n. [OE. pinne, AS. pinn a pin, peg; cf. D. pin, G.
pinne, Icel. pinni, W. pin, Gael. & Ir. pinne; all fr. L.
pinna a pinnacle, pin, feather, perhaps orig. a different
word from pinna feather. Cf. Fin of a fish, Pen a
feather.]
1. A piece of wood, metal, etc., generally cylindrical, used
for fastening separate articles together, or as a support
by which one article may be suspended from another; a peg;
a bolt.
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With pins of adamant
And chains they made all fast. --Milton.
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2. Especially, a small, pointed and headed piece of brass or
other wire (commonly tinned), largely used for fastening
clothes, attaching papers, etc.
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3. Hence, a thing of small value; a trifle.
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He . . . did not care a pin for her. --Spectator.
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4. That which resembles a pin in its form or use; as:
(a) A peg in musical instruments, for increasing or
relaxing the tension of the strings.
(b) A linchpin.
(c) A rolling-pin.
(d) A clothespin.
(e) (Mach.) A short shaft, sometimes forming a bolt, a
part of which serves as a journal. See Illust. of
Knuckle joint, under Knuckle.
(f) (Joinery) The tenon of a dovetail joint.
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5. One of a row of pegs in the side of an ancient drinking
cup to mark how much each man should drink.
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6. The bull's eye, or center, of a target; hence, the center.
[Obs.] "The very pin of his heart cleft." --Shak.
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7. Mood; humor. [Obs.] "In merry pin." --Cowper.
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8. (Med.) Caligo. See Caligo. --Shak.
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9. An ornament, as a brooch or badge, fastened to the
clothing by a pin; as, a Masonic pin.
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10. The leg; as, to knock one off his pins. [Slang]
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Banking pin (Horol.), a pin against which a lever strikes,
to limit its motion.
Pin drill (Mech.), a drill with a central pin or projection
to enter a hole, for enlarging the hole, or for sinking a
recess for the head of a bolt, etc.; a counterbore.
Pin grass. (Bot.) See Alfilaria.
Pin hole, a small hole made by a pin; hence, any very small
aperture or perforation.
Pin lock, a lock having a cylindrical bolt; a lock in which
pins, arranged by the key, are used instead of tumblers.
Pin money, an allowance of money, as that made by a husband
to his wife, for private and personal expenditure.
Pin rail (Naut.), a rail, usually within the bulwarks, to
hold belaying pins. Sometimes applied to the fife rail.
Called also pin rack.
Pin wheel.
(a) A contrate wheel in which the cogs are cylindrical
pins.
(b) (Fireworks) A small coil which revolves on a common
pin and makes a wheel of yellow or colored fire.
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Fife \Fife\ (f[imac]f), n. [F. fifre, OHG. pf[imac]fa, LL. pipa
pipe, pipare to play on the pipe, fr. L. pipire, pipare, to
peep, pip, chirp, as a chiken. See Pipe.] (Mus.)
A small shrill pipe, resembling the piccolo flute, used
chiefly to accompany the drum in military music.
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Fife major (Mil.), a noncommissioned officer who
superintends the fifers of a regiment.
Fife rail. (Naut.)
(a) A rail about the mast, at the deck, to hold belaying
pins, etc.
(b) A railing around the break of a poop deck.
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