from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Pinion \Pin"ion\, n. [OF. pignon a pen, F., gable, pinion (in
sense 5); cf. Sp. pi[~n]on pinion; fr. L. pinna pinnacle,
feather, wing. See {Pin} a peg, and cf. {Pen} a feather,
{Pennat}, {Pennon}.]
1. A feather; a quill. --Shak.
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2. A wing, literal or figurative.
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Swift on his sooty pinions flits the gnome. --Pope.
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3. The joint of bird's wing most remote from the body.
--Johnson.
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4. A fetter for the arm. --Ainsworth.
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5. (Mech.) A cogwheel with a small number of teeth, or
leaves, adapted to engage with a larger wheel, or rack
(see {Rack}); esp., such a wheel having its leaves formed
of the substance of the arbor or spindle which is its
axis.
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{Lantern pinion}. See under {Lantern}.
{Pinion wire}, wire fluted longitudinally, for making the
pinions of clocks and watches. It is formed by being drawn
through holes of the shape required for the leaves or
teeth of the pinions.
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