pinion

1 of 3

noun (1)

pin·​ion ˈpin-yən How to pronounce pinion (audio)
1
: the terminal section of a bird's wing including the carpus, metacarpus, and phalanges
broadly : wing
2
pinioned adjective

pinion

2 of 3

verb

pinioned; pinioning; pinions

transitive verb

1
a
: to disable or restrain by binding the arms
b
: to bind fast : shackle
2
: to restrain (a bird) from flight especially by cutting off the pinion of one wing

pinion

3 of 3

noun (2)

1
: a gear with a small number of teeth designed to mesh with a larger wheel or rack
2
: the smaller of a pair or the smallest of a train of gear wheels

Examples of pinion in a Sentence

Verb They pinioned his arms behind his back. Joan of Arc was pinioned to a stake and burned as a heretic.
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
Hyundai The pinion gear multilink from a Uni Wheel drive system. Jonathan M. Gitlin, Ars Technica, 1 Dec. 2023 This contains a planetary gear system that transfers drive from the motor to the wheel, but with a multilink arrangement between the pinion gears that allow the driveshaft to articulate through a wide range of motion. Jonathan M. Gitlin, Ars Technica, 1 Dec. 2023 The centerpiece is the double-clutch system with oscillating pinions. Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 9 Nov. 2023 This restaurant serves food based on traditional Hualapai Tribe recipes, such as fry bread tacos and Hualapai pinion stew. Michael Salerno, USA TODAY, 16 July 2023 The differential oil lubricates the ring and pinion gears that transfer power from the driveshaft to the wheel axles. Ben Wojdyla, Popular Mechanics, 20 Sep. 2021 Trương begins by laying down the chassis and equipping the rear axle and pinion steering. Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 20 June 2021 An authentic chassis with 4-inch round tube main rails; original style suspension with adjustable Penske shocks, as well as rack and pinion steering, 1963 factory-style disc brakes, an aluminum radiator, electric fan and custom exhaust, small block engine. Detroit Free Press, 5 June 2023 The differential is also stuff with a larger ring and pinion gears. Eric Stafford, Car and Driver, 20 Mar. 2023
Verb
Haas thus theorized that the victim had been pinioned by both heels to the front of the upright beam either with their legs splayed open, frog-like, or with their knees bent and turned to one side. Fredrick Kunkle, Anchorage Daily News, 8 Apr. 2023 There is only one substantial object in the show, a set of wooden stocks for pinioning the legs of multiple enslaved people. Philip Kennicott, Washington Post, 23 Mar. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'pinion.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English, probably modification of Anglo-French *empignon, enpenoun flight feathers, ultimately from Vulgar Latin *pinnion-, pinnio, from Latin pinna feather — more at pen

Noun (2)

French pignon, from Middle French peignon, from peigne comb, from Latin pecten — more at pectinate

First Known Use

Noun (1)

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1558, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Noun (2)

1659, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of pinion was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near pinion

Cite this Entry

“Pinion.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pinion. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

pinion

1 of 3 noun
pin·​ion ˈpin-yən How to pronounce pinion (audio)
1
: the end part of a bird's wing
also : a bird's wing
2
: a feather of a bird's pinion

pinion

2 of 3 verb
1
: to restrain especially by binding the arms
2
: to prevent a bird from flying especially by cutting off the pinion of one wing

pinion

3 of 3 noun
1
: a gear with a small number of teeth designed to fit together with a larger wheel or rack
2
: the smallest of a set of gearwheels

More from Merriam-Webster on pinion

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