pin

1. 1. A short, straight, stiff piece of wire with a blunt head and a sharp point, used especially for fastening.
   2. Something, such as a safety pin, that resembles such a piece of wire in shape or use.
   3. A whit; a jot: didn't care a pin about the matter.
2. A slender, usually cylindrical piece of wood or metal for holding or fastening parts together, or serving as a support for suspending one thing from another, as:
   1. A thin rod for securing the ends of fractured bones.
   2. A peg for fixing the crown to the root of a tooth.
   3. A cotter pin.
   4. The part of a key stem entering a lock.
   5. Music. One of the pegs securing the strings and regulating their tension on a stringed instrument.
   6. Nautical. A belaying pin.
   7. Nautical. A thole pin.
3. An ornament fastened to clothing by means of a clasp.
4. A rolling pin.
5. Sports.
   1. One of the wooden clubs at which the ball is aimed in bowling.
   2. A flagstick.
   3. See fall (sense ).
6. pins Informal. The legs: spry for his age, and steady on his pins.
7. Electronics. A lead on a device that plugs into a socket to connect the device to a system.
8. Computer Science.
   1. Any of the pegs on the platen of a printer, which engage holes at the edges of paper.
   2. Any of the styluses that form a dot matrix on a printer.
   3. Any of the small metal prongs at the end of a connector that fit into the holes in a port.

1. To fasten or secure with or as if with a pin or pins.
2. To transfix.
3. To place in a position of trusting dependence: He pinned his faith on an absurdity.
4. 1. To hold fast; immobilize: The passenger was pinned under the wreckage of the truck.
   2. Sports. To win a fall from in wrestling.
5. To give (a woman) a fraternity pin in token of attachment.

pin down

1. To fix or establish clearly: was finally able to pin down the cause of the disease.
2. To force (someone) to give firm opinions or precise information: The reporter pinned the governor down on the issue of capital punishment.

1. To attribute (a crime) to (someone): The murder was pinned on the wrong suspect.

[Middle English, from Old English pinn, perhaps from Latin pinna, feather.]

Acronym for personal identification number. Customers use PIN numbers to identify themselves when using an ATM or making purchases with a Debit Card.

Idioms beginning with pin:
pink
pinch
pinch hitter
pinch pennies
pin money
pin on
pin one's hopes on
pin someone's ears back

See also hear a pin drop; on pins and needles.

Definition: attach, hold in place
Antonyms: detach, unfasten, unlatch, unpin

A small cylindrical piece of metal.

n. a metal peg that holds down the activating lever of a hand grenade, preventing its explosion.

See the Introduction, Abbreviations and Pronunciation for further details.

For more information on pin (fastener), visit Britannica.com.

One important folkloric function of pins is to symbolize attack. Witches were regularly suspected of using them in their destructive image magic, and of mysteriously introducing them into the bodies of their victims, who would then vomit them. The crew of a fishing smack, in the 1880s, were dismayed when a pinned-up parcel was brought aboard; the captain dropped the pins overboard one by one, at arm's length, explaining they were ‘spiteful witches’, and all subsequent misfortunes in that trip were blamed on the pins (N&Q 7s: 4 (1887), 165-6).

Pins were also much used in aggressive counterspells by those who thought themselves bewitched (see hearts and pins, witch bottles). In the fiercely worded love charm involving an animal blade-bone, pins were sometimes used instead of a knife to prick the bone, and there are tales from East Yorkshire and from Derbyshire of girls driving pins into a live frog as part of a charm to force a man to marry them (Hole, 1973: 90). They also serve as a medium of magical transference, for example when rubbed over a wart and then stuck in the ground, so that someone may tread on them and ‘catch’ the wart.

Pins were popular offerings in holy wells and wishing wells, though now coins are more usual; when so used, they were generally bent.

The best-known belief about finding pins is expressed in the rhyme (first recorded in 1842 and still current):

See a pin and pick it up,
All the day you'll have good luck;
See a pin and let it lay,
You'll have bad luck all the day.

1. A peg or bolt of wood, metal, or any other material, which is used to fasten or hold something in place, fasten things together, or serve as a point of attachment or support.
2. A round bar of steel used to connect members of a truss.

A method of bone fixation, usually for treatment of fractures, in which metal pins are placed within the medullary cavity or anchored in bone. Two types of pin in common use are Steinmann and Rush. See also internal fixation.

A pin might have several meanings. Pins are small tools that help us sew something together, so perhaps we are dreaming about knitting something together. Pins can also hold a notice to a bulletin board, so perhaps the dream is trying to call our attention to something. We sometimes talk about "pinning blame" or "pinning on hopes" on someone. We can also "pin something down" or "walk on pins and needles."

A collection of push-pins in a cork board

A standard pin

For other uses, see Pin (disambiguation).

A pin is a device used for fastening objects or material together. It is usually made of steel, or on occasion copper or brass. It is formed by drawing out a thin wire, sharpening the tip, and adding a head. They are very useful, too.

Contents 1 History 2 Other types 3 See also 4 Notes 5 References

History

Straight pins have been used for over four thousand years. Originally, they were fashioned out of iron and bone by the Sumerians and were used to hold clothes together. Later, these pins were also used to hold pages together by threading the needle through their top corner. ^[1]

Many early pins were made of brass, a soft metal. Steel was used later, as it was much stronger, but there was no easy process to keep steel from rusting, so higher quality pins were plated with nickel, but the metal would start to break down and flake off in high humidity, allowing rust to form. Steel pins were not that inconvenient for homemaking uses as they were usually only used temporarily while sewing garments.^[2]

Other types

The t-pin is a more easily grasped type, with a head made by bending the pin back on itself.

The push pin, with a large plastic head, was invented in 1903 by Edwin Moore and quickly became a success. These pins are also called "thumbtacks".

Walter Hunt invented the safety pin by forming an eight-inch brass pin into a bent pin with a spring and guard. He sold the rights to his invention to pay a debt to a friend,^[3] not knowing that he could have made millions of dollars.

See also

• Bobby pin
• microperforation
• hot needle perforation
• Hairpin
• Push pin
• Cotter pin
• Clevis pin
• Collar pin
• Safety pin

Notes

1. ^ Petroski, Henry, "From Pins to Paper Clips", The Evolution of Useful Things, Knopf, New York, 1993, p. 53
2. ^ Bridgman, Roger. 1000 Inventions & Discoveries. New York: Dorling Kindersley Publishing, 2002, p. 126
3. ^ Alfred, R (2008-10-04). "April 10, 1849: Safety Tech Gets to the Point, Baby". Wired. http://www.wired.com/science/discoveries/news/2008/04/dayintech_0410#. Retrieved 2008-10-23. 

References

• Henry Petroski, The Evolution of Useful Things, Chapter 4. ISBN 0-679-74039-2.

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Dansk (Danish)
n. - nål, stift, pind, ben på stikkontakt, stikker, kegle
v. tr. - hæfte, klemme fast, spidde, fastnagle, fæste
adj. - nåle-

idioms:

• on pins and needles    være som på nåle, være utålmodig
• pin down    indespærring
• pin it on somebody    give nogen skylden for det
• pin money    lommepenge
• PIN number    PIN-kode
• pin on    påhæfte
• pin one's faith on    sætte al ens lid til
• pin one's hopes on    sætte alle ens håb på
• pin up    hæfte op, slå op
• pins and needles    når en del af kroppen "sover"

abbr. - Police Information Network (politinetværk), Personal Identification Number (PIN-kode, personnummer, personkode)

Nederlands (Dutch)
speld, pin, pen, (mv) poten, stemsleutel/ -schroef, persoonlijk identificatienummer, sierspeld, biervaatje, vlaggenstok (golfspel), kegel (bowling etc.), roeipen, (vast)spelden, toeschrijven, (vast) pinnen, stil-/vasthouden, tegenstander vastzetten (schaakspel)

Français (French)
n. - épingle, (Élec) fiche, (Tech) goujon, goupille, (Méd) broche, barrette, quille (bowling), drapeau (de trou) (au golf), jambes (npl)
v. tr. - épingler, fixer qch avec une punaise sur, coincer (qn), imputer qch à qn, rejeter qch sur qn, (Mil, Sport) coincer, bloquer, coincer (aux échecs)
adj. - d'épingle

idioms:

• on pins and needles    sur des chardons ardents
• pin down    immobiliser, (fig) coincer, (lit) accrocher, épingler, (fig) identifier
• pin it on somebody    coller la responsabilité à qn
• pin money    argent de poche
• PIN number    code bancaire confidentiel
• pin on    épingler sur
• pin one's faith on    avoir foi en, mettre ses espoirs dans
• pin one's hopes on    avoir foi en, mettre ses espoirs dans
• pin up    épingler, remonter (les cheveux)
• pins and needles    (être) sur des charbons ardents

abbr. - (abrév = personal identification number) code confidentiel (pour carte bancaire)

Deutsch (German)
n. - Stecknadel, Anstecknadel, Kegel
v. - nageln, stecken, herunterdrücken, (Schach) festnageln
adj. - mit einer Pocke wie eine Stecknadel

idioms:

• on pins and needles    nervös
• pin down    festlegen, festnageln, festhalten
• pin it on somebody    (ugs.) jmdm. etwas unterschieben
• pin money    Taschengeld
• PIN number    Geheimzahl
• pin on    anheften
• pin one's faith on    seine Hoffnungen auf jmdn. setzen
• pin one's hopes on    seine Hoffnungen auf jmdn. setzen
• pin up    hochstecken, heften
• pins and needles    Kribbeln

abbr. - persönliche Kennummer (Personal Identification Number)

Ελληνική (Greek)
n. - καρφίτσα, περόνη, γόμφος, κορύνη (κν. τσούνι), (πληθ.) (καθομ.) πόδια (κν. κανιά)
v. - καρφιτσώνω, στερεώνω με καρφίτσα, καρφώνω, πλακώνομαι, κρατώ ακίνητο, καθηλώνω, ακινητοποιώ
abbr. - (τεχνολ.) προσωπικός αριθμός αναγνώρισης

idioms:

• on pins and needles    (που κάθεται) στα καρφιά
• pin down    καθηλώνω
• pin it on somebody    αποδίδω το φταίξιμο σε κάποιον, το φορτώνω σε κάποιον
• pin money    χαρτζιλίκι
• PIN number    (τεχνολ.) προσωπικός αριθμός αναγνώρισης
• pin on    καρφιτσώνω, κοτσάρω
• pin one's faith on    στηρίζω τις ελπίδες μου σε
• pin one's hopes on    στηρίζω τις ελπίδες μου σε
• pin up    καρφιτσώνω, πιάνω με καρφίτσες
• pins and needles    μούδιασμα, μυρμηκίαση

Italiano (Italian)
codice segreto, appuntare con gli spilli, fissare, spillo, caviglia, spilla, cavicchio

idioms:

• on pins and needles    angustiato
• pin down    fissare, bloccare
• pin it on somebody    affibbiare la responsabilità a qualcuno
• pin money    soldi per le spese
• PIN number    codice segreto
• pin on    addossare la colpa a
• pin one's faith/hopes on    affidarsi a
• pin up    appuntare
• pins and needles    formicolio

Português (Portuguese)
n. - percevejo (m), alfinete (m), pino (m), prego (m), grampo de cabelos (m), prendedor de roupas (m), rolo de macarrão (m)
v. - pregar, afixar, alfinetar, trancar
abbr. - senha de banco

idioms:

• on pins and needles    ansioso, sobre um formigueiro
• pin down    obrigar a cumprir
• pin it on somebody    imputar a alguém
• pin money    quantia pequena
• PIN number    senha (de banco)
• pin on    colocar a culpa (coloq.)
• pin one's faith/hopes on    depositar as esperanças em
• pin up    arregaçar
• pins and needles    formigueiro

Русский (Russian)
персональный код, прокалывать, булавка, шпилька, штырь

idioms:

• on pins and needles    как на иголках
• pin down    определить, установить, связать обещанием, поймать
• pin it on somebody    обвинять кого-либо
• pin money    деньги на мелочи
• PIN number    персональный код
• pin on    приколоть, возлагать вину
• pin one's faith/hopes on    возлагать надежды на
• pin up    приколоть
• pins and needles    как на иголках

Español (Spanish)
n. - alfiler, imperdible, chaveta, broche, prendedor, insignia, clavija, estaquilla, espiga, chinche, chincheta
v. tr. - prender (con alfileres), clavar, fijar, sujetar, pegar, colgar, enclavijar, tachonar
adj. - de alfiler, clavillo , pasador, etc.

idioms:

• on pins and needles    sobre ascuas
• pin down    sujetar a la fuerza, precisar, hacer que alguien concrete, encontrar, localizar, inmovilizar, sujetar
• pin it on somebody    acusar, atribuir, imputar
• pin money    dinero para gastos menores
• PIN number    número de identificación personal
• pin on    prender con alfiler, imputar, atribuir, prender un broche, poner, cifrar
• pin one's faith on    poner sus esperanzas en algo
• pin one's hopes on    poner sus esperanzas en algo
• pin up    fijar, sujetar, sujetar con chinchetas, apuntalar, asegurar, sostener
• pins and needles    hormigueo

abbr. - Número de Identificación Personal

Svenska (Swedish)
n. - nål, sprint, stift, bult, plugg, skruv, kägla, pl. ben (sl.)
v. - nåla fast, sätta fast, spetsa (på nål etc)
abbr. - personal identification number

中文（简体）(Chinese (Simplified))
个人识别号

大头针, 别针, 针, 钉住, 阻止, 别住, 针的, 销的, 钉的

idioms:

• on pins and needles    如坐针毡
• pin down    使受约束, 压制, 阻止
• pin it on somebody    归罪于...
• pin money    零用钱
• PIN number    密码
• pin on    加罪于, 怪罪于
• pin one's faith on    把全部信心寄托于
• pin one's hopes on    寄望于...
• pin up    钉住, 支撑, 加固
• pins and needles    手脚发麻

中文（繁體）(Chinese (Traditional))
abbr. - 個人識別號

n. - 大頭針, 別針, 針
v. tr. - 釘住, 阻止, 別住
adj. - 針的, 銷的, 釘的

idioms:

• on pins and needles    如坐針氈
• pin down    使受約束, 壓制, 阻止
• pin it on somebody    歸罪於...
• pin money    零用錢
• PIN number    密碼
• pin on    加罪於, 怪罪於
• pin one's faith on    把全部信心寄託於
• pin one's hopes on    寄望於...
• pin up    釘住, 支撐, 加固
• pins and needles    手腳發麻

한국어 (Korean)
n. - 핀, 마개, (과녁의) 중심점, 다리
v. tr. - 핀[못]을 박다, 찔러서 붙이다, 아주 조금
adj. - 핀의, 표면이 입상인

idioms:

• pin down    ...을 핀으로 꽂다, ...을 속박하다, 분명히 설명하다
• pin on    핀으로 꽂다
• pin up    핀업 사진, 미인

abbr. - personal identification number (은행카드의) 비밀번호

日本語 (Japanese)
n. - ピン, 飾りピン, 掛けくぎ, ほんの少しも, 旗ざお, 糸巻き, 足
v. - ピンで留める, 押さえ付けておく, 縛り付ける

idioms:

• on pins and needles    やきもきする
• pin down    動けないようにする, 縛り付ける, 束縛する
• pin it on somebody    誰かのせいにする
• pin money    こづかい銭, 小金
• PIN number    ピン番号
• pin on    ピンで留める
• pin one's faith/hopes on    絶対的に信用する
• pin up    ピンで留める, ピンで張る
• pins and needles    ちくちくする感じ

العربيه (Arabic)
‏(الاسم) وتد, خابور, القارورة, دبوس, , مسمار, بروش (فعل) يشبك بدبوس, , يشبك بدبوس, , يثبت موضع ما (اختصار) مختصر : رقم التعريف الشخصي‏

עברית (Hebrew)
n. - ‮סיכה, פין, מספר סודי (בכרטיס אשראי), סיכת-תכשיט, יתד, תג מחובר בסיכה, "מסמר" לחיבור עצם שנשברה, דבר פעוט-ערך‬
v. tr. - ‮נעץ, חיבר בסיכה, ריתק, תפס במהירות, הטיל (אשמה, אחריות) על אדם‬
adj. - ‮שהמירקם שלו מזכיר ראשי סיכות (עור)‬
abbr. - ‮מספר זהות אישי‬

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