A small clip or fastener, usually made of wood or plastic, used to hold clothes securely on a clothesline while drying.
From clothes + pin. Developed in the 1800s; early versions were simple wooden pegs, but the hinged spring-loaded design (still common) was patented in 1853, making it one of the most successful household inventions.
The humble clothespin is actually a marvel of design—the simple spring-hinge version patented by David Smith in 1853 has barely changed in 170 years, making it possibly the most perfect mechanical device ever created for its purpose.
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