'Pin wheel' definitions:

Definition of 'Pin wheel'

From: GCIDE
  • Pin \Pin\, n. [OE. pinne, AS. pinn a pin, peg; cf. D. pin, G. pinne, Icel. pinni, W. pin, Gael. & Ir. pinne; all fr. L. pinna a pinnacle, pin, feather, perhaps orig. a different word from pinna feather. Cf. Fin of a fish, Pen a feather.]
  • 1. A piece of wood, metal, etc., generally cylindrical, used for fastening separate articles together, or as a support by which one article may be suspended from another; a peg; a bolt. [1913 Webster]
  • With pins of adamant And chains they made all fast. --Milton. [1913 Webster]
  • 2. Especially, a small, pointed and headed piece of brass or other wire (commonly tinned), largely used for fastening clothes, attaching papers, etc. [1913 Webster]
  • 3. Hence, a thing of small value; a trifle. [1913 Webster]
  • He . . . did not care a pin for her. --Spectator. [1913 Webster]
  • 4. That which resembles a pin in its form or use; as: (a) A peg in musical instruments, for increasing or relaxing the tension of the strings. (b) A linchpin. (c) A rolling-pin. (d) A clothespin. (e) (Mach.) A short shaft, sometimes forming a bolt, a part of which serves as a journal. See Illust. of Knuckle joint, under Knuckle. (f) (Joinery) The tenon of a dovetail joint. [1913 Webster]
  • 5. One of a row of pegs in the side of an ancient drinking cup to mark how much each man should drink. [1913 Webster]
  • 6. The bull's eye, or center, of a target; hence, the center. [Obs.] "The very pin of his heart cleft." --Shak. [1913 Webster]
  • 7. Mood; humor. [Obs.] "In merry pin." --Cowper. [1913 Webster]
  • 8. (Med.) Caligo. See Caligo. --Shak. [1913 Webster]
  • 9. An ornament, as a brooch or badge, fastened to the clothing by a pin; as, a Masonic pin. [1913 Webster]
  • 10. The leg; as, to knock one off his pins. [Slang] [1913 Webster]
  • Banking pin (Horol.), a pin against which a lever strikes, to limit its motion.
  • Pin drill (Mech.), a drill with a central pin or projection to enter a hole, for enlarging the hole, or for sinking a recess for the head of a bolt, etc.; a counterbore.
  • Pin grass. (Bot.) See Alfilaria.
  • Pin hole, a small hole made by a pin; hence, any very small aperture or perforation.
  • Pin lock, a lock having a cylindrical bolt; a lock in which pins, arranged by the key, are used instead of tumblers.
  • Pin money, an allowance of money, as that made by a husband to his wife, for private and personal expenditure.
  • Pin rail (Naut.), a rail, usually within the bulwarks, to hold belaying pins. Sometimes applied to the fife rail. Called also pin rack.
  • Pin wheel. (a) A contrate wheel in which the cogs are cylindrical pins. (b) (Fireworks) A small coil which revolves on a common pin and makes a wheel of yellow or colored fire. [1913 Webster]