pin|ion

pin|ion¹ «PIHN yuhn», noun, verb.

–n.

1. the last joint of a bird's wing. The bones of the pinion correspond to those of the human wrist and hand. The flight feathers grow on the pinion.

2. the wing of a bird, as used for flight; flying feathers: »

First a speck, and then a vulture, Till the air is dark with pinions (Longfellow).

3. any one of the stiff flying feathers of a bird's wing; quill: »

He is pluck'd, when hither He sends so poor a pinion of his wing (Shakespeare).

4. the anterior border of an insect's wing, especially in reference to its color or markings.

–v.t.

1. a) to cut off or tie the pinions of (a bird) to prevent it from flying. b) to cut or bind (a wing) thus.

2. a) to bind the as of (a person) so as to deprive him of their use: »

Finding us all prostrate upon our faces…they pinioned us with strong ropes (Jonathan Swift).

b) to bind (the arms) to something: »

The captive's arms were pinioned to his sides.

╂[< Middle French pignon < Old French pennon < penne < Latin penna feather, also pinna wing]

pin|ion² «PIHN yuhn», noun.

1. a small gear with teeth that fit into those of a larger gear or rack; planetary gear; bevel gear or spur gear.

2. a spindle, arbor, or axle having teeth that engage with the teeth of a wheel.

╂[< Middle French pignon < Old French, crenelation, battlement < Vulgar Latin pinniō, -ōnis < Latin pinna pinnacle, battlement; (originally) pinion¹, feather]