Small thin metal fasteners with a pointed end used to hold things together, or in wrestling, the act of holding an opponent's shoulders to the mat.
From Old English 'pinne,' possibly from Latin 'pinna' meaning 'feather' or 'wing,' because early pins resembled feathers. Later used for the metal fastening device.
Before safety pins were invented in 1849, people had to use dangerous straight pins for everything—which is why 'PIN money' originally meant a small allowance to buy pins, an expensive luxury item.
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