Definitions for: Pinion


[n] wing of a bird
[n] any of the larger wing or tail feathers of a bird
[n] a gear with a small number of teeth designed to mesh with a larger wheel or rack
[v] cut the wings off (of birds)
[v] bind the arms of



Webster (1913) Definition: Pin"ion, n. (Zo["o]l.)
A moth of the genus Lithophane, as L. antennata, whose
larva bores large holes in young peaches and apples.


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

2. A wing, literal or figurative.

Swift on his sooty pinions flits the gnome. --Pope.

3. The joint of bird's wing most remote from the body.
--Johnson.

4. A fetter for the arm. --Ainsworth.

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.

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.


Pin"ion, 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.

2. To disable by cutting off the pinion joint. --Johnson.

3. To disable or restrain, as a person, by binding the arms,
esp. by binding the arms to the body. --Shak.

Her elbows pinioned close upon her hips. --Cowper.

4. Hence, generally, to confine; to bind; to tie up.
``Pinioned up by formal rules of state.'' --Norris.

Synonyms: flight feather, pennon, quill, quill feather, shackle

See Also: bird, cogwheel, confine, disable, disenable, feather, gear, gear wheel, hold, incapacitate, lantern pinion, lantern wheel, plumage, plume, primary, primary feather, primary quill, restrain, tail feather, wing

Try our:
Scrabble Word Finder

Scrabble Cheat

Words With Friends Cheat

Hanging With Friends Cheat

Scramble With Friends Cheat

Ruzzle Cheat



Related Resources:
animlas that start with h