Middle English Dictionary Entry
pin n.
Entry Info
| Forms | pin n. Also pine, pinne, penne & pẹ̄ne. |
| Etymology | OE pin, from L. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) A peg of wood or metal used as a fastener, nail; bolt; also fig.; ~ nail, helinge ~, nail or peg used to attach tile to the lath of a roof [cp. tip-pin]; (b) a pin used to hold a wheel on an axle or frame, linchpin; axel ~, axel-tre ~, ax-tre ~; cart ~ [see cart 8. (b)]; also, some kind of pin associated with a cart [quot.: a1425]; (c) a part of a harness; ?pin attaching a trace to the collar; ~ trais, trais ~; tre ~, such a pin made of wood.
Associated quotations
a
- (1322) in Salzman Building in Engl.316 : Pynail [..for roofing a chamber].
- a1325 Gloss.Bibbesw.(Cmb Gg.1.1)151 : Mes kevil de pe, e kyvil [glossed:] pinne [vrr. a pyn; a pin of treo].
- a1325 Gloss.Bibbesw.(Cmb Gg.1.1)954 : Sur la mesere les traes mettez E deuz cheverouns un couple facez, Ki ferme estera sur la mesere Par kivil [glossed:] pinne.
- ?c1335(a1300) Cokaygne (Hrl 913)59 : Of cherche, cloister, boure, and halle, Þe pinnes beþ fat podinges, Rich met to princez and kinges.
- c1350 Cmb.Ee.4.20.Nominale (Cmb Ee.4.20)447 : Clowes, kyuyls, et guenchons: Nayles, pynnes, and lathes.
- (1400) Will York in Sur.Soc.4519 : In di. lb. de pynes, v d.
- c1400(?a1300) KAlex.(LdMisc 622)7660 : She led hym to chaumbres..Þe bemes þere-inne weren of bras, Þe wyndewes of riche glas; Þe pynnes weren of yuory.
- c1400(?a1387) PPl.C (Hnt HM 137)9.199 : Peers..putte hem alle to werke In daubyng and in deluyng..In þresshynge, in þecchynge, in thwytynge of pynnes.
- (1411) in Rec.B.Nottingham 284 : iiij pynnes de ferro, iiij d.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)390 : Pegge, or pynne of tymbyr: Cavilla.
- a1450(1391) Chaucer Astr.(Benson-Robinson)1.14 : Than is there a large pyn in manere of an extre, that goth thorugh the hole that halt the tables of the clymates and the riet in the wombe of the moder; thorugh which pyn ther goth a litel wegge, which that is clepid the hors, that streynith all these parties tohepe.
- a1450(1408) *Vegetius(1) (Dc 291)99b : Also loke þou haue redy boþe bemes & gistes smaller & grettere tables & bordes þikker and þennere, pynnes of tre and nayles of yren more & lesse of alle manere sort & schap to make gynnes.
- a1450 St.Editha (Fst B.3)4202 : When þis tymbre was fullyche y-dyȝt And duden hit ouer hem þer þo vp rere, Hit was so clene y-take a-way wt-inne one nyȝt Þat þere was neuer a pynne stondyng þere.
- ?c1450 St.Cuth.(Eg 3309)6008 : Þe sledd it bare so grete fothir, Þat nere ilk pynn birst fra othir.
- (1458-60) Acc.St.Andrew Hubbard in BMag.31248 : Paiede to a Tyler for Tyling vpon the Churche..and for Tiles and pynnes and lyme.
- (a1472) Acc.Bodmin in Camd.n.s.1421 : Item, for makyng of a Mill, pynnys, ij d.
- (1473-4) Acc.St.Edm.Sarum15 : Item, in viij pynnes and other thyngs of ire to the steple, x d.
- ?c1475 *Cath.Angl.(Add 15562)95b : A pyne of wodde: Cauilla.
- (1485-86) Acc.Ashburton in D&CRS n.s.157 : [For] helyng pynnys, 12 d.
b
- a1325 Gloss.Bibbesw.(Cmb Gg.1.1)844 : Mes en les moyeaus gist le essel, Ki par deuz heces [glossed:] pinnes [vrr. axtre pinnes, axeltre nailes or pynnes] le tient ouwel.
- c1350 Cmb.Ee.4.20.Nominale (Cmb Ee.4.20)874 : Trynes, braieus, et riders: Axultrepynnes, warewrethes, radeues.
- a1425 Roy.17.C.17 Nominale (Roy 17.C.17)665/31 : Fricsorium: pynne.
- (1452) Acc.St.Mary Thame in BBOAJ 976 : Item, for ye makyng of a pyne to ye same wheele, i d.
c
- a1325 Gloss.Bibbesw.(Cmb Gg.1.1)881 : Devant les braceroles sunt billes [glossed:] pinnes [vrr. trepyspin [read: treys pin]; treopinnes] Tailes de coteus ou de hachez.
- (1440-41) Acc.R.Dur.in Sur.Soc.103627 : Et sol. pro 1 pyntrase, 2 kipstrynges, 12 heltershaftes, et 2 kartrapes, 4 s. 6d.
2.
A pin used as a fastener for clothing or in sewing; an ornamental pin for clothing or the hair; brooch, hairpin.
Associated quotations
- a1275 Þene latemeste dai (Trin-C B.14.39)32 : Þenne sulen woremes woniin þe wid-innen, Ne salt þu þe nout weriin wid neppe ne wid pinne.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Bod 959)Is.3.22 : In þat dai þe lord shal don awei þe ournement of shon & boces and beeyes..& sheetis & pynnes [WB(2): needlis; L acus] & sheweris.
- (c1387-95) Chaucer CT.Prol.(Manly-Rickert)A.196 : He hadde of gold wroght a ful curious pyn; A loue knotte in the gretter ende ther was.
- (c1387-95) Chaucer CT.Prol.(Manly-Rickert)A.234 : His typet was ay farsed ful of knyues And pynnes for to yeuen faire wyues.
- (1397) Inquis.Miscel.(PRO)6.225 : [A] cas [with 2] pines [and an ivory mirror worth 10 s.].
- ?c1430(c1383) Wycl.Leaven Pharisees (Corp-C 296)12 : Þei becomen pedderis, berynge knyues, pursis, pynnys, and girdlis and spices and sylk..for wymmen.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)269 : Kace, or casse for pynnys: Capcella.
- c1440(a1400) Awntyrs Arth.(Thrn)372 : Hir courchefes were coryouse, with many prowde pyne [vr. pene; rime: grene, bene, clene].
- c1450 All this day (Cai 383/603)p.306 : Yc moste..Predele my kerchef vndur my khyn; Leue Jakke, lend me a pyn, To predele me this holiday.
- a1450 We bern abowtyn (Sln 2593)p.279 : We bern abowtyn..Pursis, perlis, syluer pynnis, Smale wympele for ladyis chynnys.
- ?c1450 Knt.Tour-L.(Hrl 1764)64/27 : She was atyred with high long pynnes lyke a iebet, and so she was scorned of all the company, and saide she bare a galous on her hede.
- (1463-4) RParl.5.502b : In the occupations of makyng of Cloth, the Laborers therof have been dryven to take grete part of their wages in Pynnes, Girdels, and other unprofitable Merchaundise.
- (1467) Acc.Howard in RC 57415 : Item, a mle. pynnes, pryse, xij d..Item, ij c di. of fyne pynnes, pryse, iij d.
3.
(a) A peg on which something is hung; (b) a pin around which something is wound: a spindle used to apply traction in setting bones; tuning pin.
Associated quotations
a
- a1475 Mourn.Hare (Brog 2.1)74 : Als son as I am come home, I ame I-honge hye vp-on a pyne.
b
- ?c1425 Chauliac(2) (Paris angl.25)361/9 : Þe þyghe was bounden aboue þe kne in rollynge alle þe legge vnto the hele, and wiþ pynnes putte bytwene þe towel and þe pyler and in wryþinge, he was drawen to eyþer partie.
- a1475 Gawain & CC (Brog 2.1)434 : The harpe was of maser fyne; The pynnys wer of golde.
4.
(a) A part of a lock or latch; bolt of a door, gate, etc.; (b) a pin used as a control for a mechanical device.
Associated quotations
a
- a1200 Gloss.Sidonius (Dgb 172)45/21 : Pessulum opponis, i. pin.
- c1330(?a1300) Arth.& M.(Auch)5677 : Þo he was out and his feren eke, Fast oȝain þe gate he leke Wiþ lockes, haspes, and mani pin.
- c1330(?a1300) Arth.& M.(Auch)7255 : To Camalahot þai wenten on hast And schetten after þe gates fast, Drowen brigge and eueri pin.
- c1410(c1350) Gamelyn (Hrl 7334)298 : He smot þe wyket wiþ his foot and brak awey þe pyn.
- (1415) *Mun.B.Bridgewater41 : Cum j ferreo pynne pro parvo hostio.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)4.6282 : Many vys and many sotyl pyn In þe stede he made aboute goon, Þe crafty lokkes vndoynge euerychon.
- (1426-7) Rec.St.Mary at Hill64 : Also for crochates & iij Iron pynnes & a staple, xiij d.
- a1450(1412) Hoccl.RP (Hrl 4866)1104 : He dremeth theeues comen in And on his cofres knokke..And some hem pyke..And vp is broken lok, hasp, barre, & pyn.
- a1450 7 Sages(3) (Cmb Dd.1.17)1410 : At hys dore he wolde inne, And hit was stoken with a pyne.
- a1450 7 Sages(3) (Cmb Dd.1.17)1453 : My wyf hase put in the pyne In the dore.
- a1450-1509 Rich.(Brunner)4113 : In þat hasp a pyn is pylt.
- a1500(a1400) Cleges (Adv 19.1.11)338 : The panyere he toke the styward sone, And he pullyd out the pyne.
b
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Sq.(Manly-Rickert)F.127 : This same steede shal bere yow eueremoore..til ye be ther yow leste..And turne agayn with writhyng of a pyn [vrr. pinne; penne].
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Sq.(Manly-Rickert)F.316 : Whan yow list to ryden any where, Ye moten trille a pyn stant in his ere.
5.
(a) A sharpened pin used for pricking or stabbing; (b) a spike or wedge; coll. the spiked lower ends of a portcullis; (c) a surgical pin or wedge; ~ of tre, a wooden pin used as a surgical tool; (d) the spike of a candelstick, a pricket; (e) fig. the penis.
Associated quotations
a
- a1425(?c1375) NHom.(3) Leg.(Hrl 4196)110/253 : Bifor Decius war broght Sere turmentries..Cambes and pines, scharp puruaid.
- c1450 Med.Bk.(1) (Med-L 136)190/601 : Take xij egges and..pryk heme with a nedyll or a pynne all abowte thorow þe shelles and lay heme in a clene platere & þer will com oyle of heme.
- ?a1475(?a1425) Higd.(2) (Hrl 2261)4.471 : This man..hade in exercise..to take flees in his chamber, and to pricke theym thro with a scharpe pynne [Trev.: poyntel; L stylo].
b
- c1425 Siege Jerus.(1) (Hnt HM 128)616 : Pyne [vr. pynne; Ld: Ledes..portecolis with pile picchen to grounde].
- (?1440) Palladius (DukeH d.2)11.181 : Yf the tre bigynne seeke, The dreggis old of wynes wole hit cure; So hit vnto the bared rootis seeke, The heer do barbe away from eyther cheeke Of euery roote, or make a saly pyn [L cuneum salicis] And in the rootis clift let dryue hit in.
c
- (c1410) York MGame (Vsp B.12)48 : Than shul ȝe slitte þe tounge vndirnethe and put a nedel wiþ threde by twix þe worme and þe tounge and knyt it and draw þe worme out with þe þrede or ellis wiþ a smal pynne of tre.
- ?c1425 Chauliac(2) (Paris angl.25)192/25,30 : Incarnatyf sewynge is made in þe þridde manere wiþ euen pynnes [*Ch.(1): weggez; L canulis] made of smalle and wel-beten towgh of lengþe of a fynger or of a stalke of a feþer..turne aȝeyne þe þrede by þe same hole vnto þere leue a pytte, in þe whiche putte one of þe hedes of þe pyne [*Ch.(1): cauille, i. wegge].
- ?c1425 Chauliac(2) (Paris angl.25)195/2 : Þe schappe of lychynies schal be euene; of tentes, forsoþe, vneuen, in þe manere of a pyn [*Ch.(1): cauale, i. wegge; L cauillarum].
- a1475 Hrl.Bk.Hawking in Studia Neoph.16 (Hrl 2340)17 : Take hony soden, and make a pynne and lete it drop in the hole where þe penne fil oute, and anon ther wyl a newe pen growe.
d
- (1426-7) Rec.St.Mary at Hill64 : Also payd for Pynnes of Iron pynnes for þe same Paskall, iiij d.
- (1466) Rec.St.Stephen in Archaeol.5035 : j pyne wt a whele for to put candill ther on.
- (1468-9) Acc.St.Edm.Sarum11 : Et Joh'i Russhe Turner pro factura xllvij pynys de Beche & Asshe ad standum supra sepulcure pro cera ibidem ardente xviij d.
e
- a1475 Leve lystynes (Brog 2.1)p.32 : Whon owre syre comys In, And lokes after that sory pyne That schuld hengge bytwen his leggis, He is lyke..A sory laueroke satt on brode Opon two adyll eggis.
6.
(a) A part of a timepiece or astronomical instrument functioning as a pointer or gnomon; (b) a pin inserted in a drinking vessel marking equal portions of the contents; also, an amount of drink thus marked; half ~, half the amount marked by the pin.
Associated quotations
a
- c1400 *Chaucer Astr.(Brussels 4869)[2.38.] 95a : In the centre of the compas stike an euen pyn, or a wyr, vpriȝt.
- c1400 *Chaucer Astr.(Brussels 4869)[2.38.] 95a : Waite bisily abowte 10 or 11 of the clocke, whan the sunne schyneth, whan the schadewe of the pyn entreth enythyng withinne the cercle of the compas an heer mele, & marke there a pricke with inke.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)399 : Pynne, of an orlage, or oþer lyke, schowynge þe owrys of the day or of þe nyghte [vr. pyn, or other lyke, shewynge the owre in a dyall]: Sciotirus.
b
- ?a1300 Þene latemeste dai (Dgb 86)p.100 : Nou shulen þis wormes wonien þe wiþinne; Ne shalt þou neuere hailen wiþ nappe to þe pinne.
- c1330(?a1300) Tristrem (Auch)1663 : Þe coupe was richeli wrouȝt, Of gold it was, þe pin.
- (1454) Doc.in HMC Rep.5 App.491b : For iiii halff pynnes of ale 3 s. 4 d.
7.
(a) A pedestal; (b) a pinnacle or point.
Associated quotations
a
- (1449) Will Brugco in Nichols Illust.133 : In the middel of that round blok, for a gret coupe of sylver, and overgilt, to stande on, upon a pynne of tre.
b
- ?a1475 Ludus C.(Vsp D.8)197/110 : Now to þe temple com forth with me..Vp to þis pynnacle now go we; I xal þe sett on þe hyȝest pynne.
8.
A tumorous disease of the eye.
Associated quotations
- ?c1425 Chauliac(2) (Paris angl.25)458/9 : Alle medecynes þat fordone þe pynne [*Ch.(1): vngle; L vngulam], sebel, and þe scabbe ben accordynge to webbes or spottes.
- a1450 Treat.Horses (Sln 2584)145/801 : Caste þe pouder in þe hors eye, & it wol destrie web & pynne.
- c1450 Med.Bk.(1) (Med-L 136)296/962 : Þis water is goode for suellynge of a mannes eȝen that commyth of cold and also for blereeyȝed eyȝen & for the pynne in the eyȝen.
- ?c1450 Stockh.PRecipes (Stockh 10.90)29/15 : A precyows watir to cleryn mannys syth and to distroyn þe pyn in a mannys eye.
- ?c1450 Stockh.PRecipes (Stockh 10.90)36/20 : For þe pyn in a mannys eye.
- (1464) Acc.Howard in RC 57280 : For a webbe and a pynne in the yhe, roste an egge hard and pele it, [etc.].
- a1500 Hrl.2378 Recipes (Hrl 2378)108/13 : For þe pyn in þe eye: Tak hony and sethe it, [etc.].
- a1500 Med.Bk.(2) (Sln 3153)101 : For to make a precious water to clarifie þe iȝe of ony euyl þat is þer ine, & to distrie perle, hawe, pin, or web.
9.
(a) In cpds. & combs.: pinnes hed, the head of a pin; a minuscule amount; ~ maker, a metal worker engaged in making various sorts of nails and pins; (b) in fig. phrases: hitten the ~, to be exactly right; hongen bi on-other ~, be concerned with something else, be improperly directed; ne yeven a ~ of, setten not at a ~, consider (sth.) worthless; oure bagge hongeth on a sliper ~, we are in precarious circumstances; I wol setten min soule (on) a meri ~, your herte hongeth on a joli ~, the yong manes herte stondeth on a joli ~, I will be (you are, the young man is) in a merry frame of mind; your herte is on on-other ~, you are interested in someone else; his lif is lighted upon a litel ~, his life has come to an end; (c) in proverb.
Associated quotations
a
- (1350) in G.Otto Handwerkernamen30 : Pinmaker.
- c1450 ?C.d'Orl.Poems (Hrl 682)7/184 : If she wolde..leue me not as man without hert But graunt me, loo, liche to a pynnys hed Part of hiris.
- -?-(1352) Reg.Freemen York in Sur.Soc.9645 : Robertus de Badby, pinmaker.
b
- c1390 Ȝhit is god (Vrn)79 : Nou were heih tyme to be-gin To A-Mende vr mis & wel to fare; Vr bagge hongeþ on a sliper pyn, Bote we of þis warnyng be ware.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Mch.(Manly-Rickert)E.1516 : By my fader kyn, Youre herte hangeth on a ioly pyn.
- c1400(?a1300) KAlex.(LdMisc 622)6136 : He seide al þat he had ywonne Jn þe werlde vnder sonne, He nolde ȝiue þere-of a pynne, Bot he miȝth þise wynne.
- a1450 Castle Persev.(Folg V.a.354)112 : I Wot Neuere Who..Schal eryth þe erytage þat neuere was of hys blod, Whanne al hys lyfe is lytyd upon a lytyl pynne At þe laste.
- a1450 Parton.(1) (UC C.188)8586 : Ofte ye speke of Partanope..And yet youre hert ys on a-nother pynne And haue chose som new thing.
- c1450(?c1408) Lydg.RS (Frf 16)2952 : Thow art in party out of Ioynt..For, pleynly, thin entencion, Wil, and inclynacion..hangen by another pyn.
- ?a1475 Ludus C.(Vsp D.8)129/189 : Now, be myn trowth, ȝe hytte þe pynne; with þat purpose, in feyth, I holde.
- c1475 Wisd.(Folg V.a.354)492 : Ya, I woll no more row ageyn þe floode; I woll sett my soule a [vr. on a] mery pynne.
- a1500(a1456) Sellyng EBeware (Hrl 7333)50 : Þe younge manis herte stondithe on a ioly pynne; Ful lustely he tredithe on þe stonis.
- a1500(a1460) Towneley Pl.(Hnt HM 1)34/364 : Wheder I lose or I wyn, In fayth, thi felowship set I not at a pyn.
c
- c1450 Ryl.Prov.& R.(Ryl Lat 394)94 : The nerre þe pynne, þe better is þe puddynge.
10.
In surnames.
Associated quotations
- (1206) Surnames in Disc.24 : William drinkepin.
- (1327) Nickname in LuSE 55122 : Will. Lilpyn.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- c1475 A philosophre (Hrl 372)p.30 : The harpe discordethe for the pynnes are gone.
Note: Additional quotation for sense 3.(b) 'tuning peg.'
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- ?c1400(1379) Daniel *Treat.Uroscopy (Roy 17.D.1)f.6rb (1.1) : If an oyntyment be made þerof [of urine] and of haukes galle..it fordoþ þe webbe & þe pyn in þe eye.
Note: Additional quot., sense 8.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
Note: Med., etc., see further J.Norri, Dictionary of Medical Vocabulary, s.v. pin.