pinion

n. [ OF. pignon a pen, F., gable, pinion (in sense 5); cf. Sp. piñon pinion; fr. L. pinna pinnacle, feather, wing. See Pin a peg, and cf. Pen a feather, Pennat, Pennon. ] 1. A feather; a quill. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A wing, literal or figurative. [ 1913 Webster ]

Swift on his sooty pinions flits the gnome. Pope. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. The joint of bird's wing most remote from the body. Johnson. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. A fetter for the arm. Ainsworth. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. (Mech.) A cogwheel with a small number of teeth, or leaves, adapted to engage with a larger wheel, or rack (see Rack); esp., such a wheel having its leaves formed of the substance of the arbor or spindle which is its axis. [ 1913 Webster ]

Lantern pinion. See under Lantern. --
Pinion wire, wire fluted longitudinally, for making the pinions of clocks and watches. It is formed by being drawn through holes of the shape required for the leaves or teeth of the pinions. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Pinioned p. pr. & vb. n. Pinioning. ] 1. To bind or confine the wings of; to confine by binding the wings. Bacon. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To disable by cutting off the pinion joint. Johnson. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To disable or restrain, as a person, by binding the arms, esp. by binding the arms to the body. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

Her elbows pinioned close upon her hips. Cowper. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. Hence, generally, to confine; to bind; to tie up. “Pinioned up by formal rules of state.” Norris. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Having wings or pinions. [ 1913 Webster ]