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. [ 1913 Webster ]

With pins of adamant
And chains they made all fast. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Especially, a small, pointed and headed piece of brass or other wire (commonly tinned), largely used for fastening clothes, attaching papers, etc. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Hence, a thing of small value; a trifle. [ 1913 Webster ]

He . . . did not care a pin for her. Spectator. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. One of a row of pegs in the side of an ancient drinking cup to mark how much each man should drink. [ 1913 Webster ]

6. The bull's eye, or center, of a target; hence, the center. [ Obs. ] “The very pin of his heart cleft.” Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

7. Mood; humor. [ Obs. ] “In merry pin.” Cowper. [ 1913 Webster ]

8. (Med.) Caligo. See Caligo. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

9. An ornament, as a brooch or badge, fastened to the clothing by a pin; as, a Masonic pin. [ 1913 Webster ]

10. The leg; as, to knock one off his pins. [ Slang ] [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]