pinstripen.adj.
/ˈpɪnstrʌɪp/, U.S. /ˈpɪnˌstraɪp/ A. n.
1. A very narrow stripe repeated as a woven or printed pattern in cloth; a fabric that bears this pattern. Also in extended use.
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the world > textiles and clothing > textiles > textile fabric or an article of textile fabric > textile fabric > textile fabric manufactured in specific way > [noun] > patterned > striped > stripe
vein1539
stripe1626
pinstripe1863
1863 Godey's Lady's Bk. May 499 We have seen some pretty grenadine veils, with borders formed of pin stripes.
1880 Decatur (Illinois) Daily Republican 28 May 3 (advt.) In full regular made pin stripes and other fancy hose, none can surpass our stock.
1897 Sears, Roebuck Catal. No. 104. 183/1 Extra good value, heavy pin-stripe, with fancy navy blue square sailor collar.
1906 Westm. Gaz. 2 June 16/3 The particular cloth I have in mind has a pin stripe in brown.
1973 Times 15 Nov. 18/4 I wore my midnight blue suit with a wide pin stripe.
1988 C. Chute Letourneau's Used Auto Parts (1989) ii. xxvii. 50 A silver Dodge Charger with black pinstripes.
2004 Times Higher Educ. Suppl. (Nexis) 18 June 18 The design includes several colours of other plain fabrics, tailored pinstripes, spots and gold leather.
2. A suit or other outfit made of pinstripe cloth.Regarded as the conventional dress of a businessman or businesswoman.
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the world > textiles and clothing > clothing > types or styles of clothing > set or suit of clothes > [noun] > made of specific material
moose suit1645
drugget1670
oiler1889
worsted1905
pinstripe1935
Lovats1937
pin-striper1947
1935 Times 20 May 7/4 The grey pin-stripe is particularly good and is proving very successful, as it can be worn with any colour blouse and hat or with white accessories.
1958 Spectator 15 Aug. 214/1 A suit that fits him rather less snugly than his usual pin~stripe.
2004 Hamilton (Ont.) Spectator (Nexis) 24 Feb. (Fashion section) g 7 (caption) Wear this belt at your waist under a pinstripe or over a white shirt.
3. colloquial. A person who dresses in pinstripe clothing, esp. a person who wears a pinstripe suit; a businessman or businesswoman. Cf. pin-striper n.
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society > occupation and work > worker > workers according to type of work > non-manual worker > businessman > [noun]
man of business1640
homme d'affaires1717
businessman1803
businessperson1834
operator1838
towkay1854
grey suit1969
pinstripe1970
suit1977
pin-striper1979
society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > ball game > baseball > baseball player > [noun] > player in specific team
pin-striper1949
pinstripe1970
1970 Times 16 Jan. 12/8 (heading) The frustrated pinstripes.
1986 P. D. James Taste for Death vi. ii. 379 He's dredged up a bright young pin-stripe from Maurice and Sheldon.
2003 Estates Gaz. (Nexis) 25 Oct. 102 The Square Mile remains the natural habitat of the pinstripes rather than Prada.
B. adj.
Designating cloth having a pattern of very narrow stripes; (of a garment) made of such cloth.
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the world > textiles and clothing > textiles > textile fabric or an article of textile fabric > textile fabric > textile fabric manufactured in specific way > [adjective] > patterned > striped > specific
pirned1494
miled1512
pirnie1597
pinstripe1863
pin-striped1880
the world > textiles and clothing > clothing > types or styles of clothing > [adjective] > made from specific materials
warm?c1225
furredc1325
russet1390
imperial purple1577
furry1691
kidden1714
Shetland1790
pepper-and-salt1792
dreadnought1798
cilice1812
moleskin1836
nainsook1852
lingeriea1865
pepper-salt1882
Milanese1897
ramie1906
pinstripe1935
stranded1935
Day-Glo1949
1863 Janesville (Wisconsin) Daily Gaz. 11 May Grenadine veils, with pin-stripe borders..are effective and striking.
1897 Sears, Roebuck Catal. No. 104. 183/2 This suit is made of a fine brown pin stripe cassimere.
1935 P. G. Wodehouse Luck of Bodkins iv. 42 A pin-stripe flannel suit.
1973 M. Amis Rachel Papers 50 As I watched, there was a stir in the classroom; a cruel-faced bearded man in a pinstripe suit strode into camera.
2004 Chicago Tribune (Nexis) 30 May (Style section) qc 4 Claiborne khaki pinstripe dress pants, $99.50, Kenneth Cole melon green dress shirt, $42.50.
Compounds
Parasynthetic.
pinstripe-suited adj.
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1958 Daily Independent (Monessen, Pa.) 9 Jan. 1/1 The few pin-stripe-suited, bank-roll-flashing mobsters who turned up.
1993 Toronto Life Apr. 80/2 I grew up knowing..his marvellous pinstripe-suited, short-silver-haired wife, great-aunt Eleanor.
pinstripe-trousered adj.
ΚΠ
1942 S. Spender Life & Poet v. 84 The black-coated, pinstripe-trousered man.
2003 Morning Star (Nexis) 27 June 2 Is he really so wedded to the top hat and pinstripe-trousered image of the early 20th-century boss?
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2006; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.adj.1863