safety-pinv.
/ˈseɪftɪpɪn/, U.S. /ˈseɪftiˌpɪn/ 1. transitive. To fasten or secure with safety-pins; (also) to put a safety-pin into.With quot. 1971, see safety pin n. 1.
ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > industry > working with tools or equipment > fastening > fasten [verb (transitive)] > with pins or pegs > with specific type
thorn1605
poniard1620
dowel1712
toggle1836
pivot1842
safety-pin1892
1892 Amer. Jrnl. Obstetr. June 804 The heavy elastic ligature is thrown around the tumor..and safety-pinned, that it shall not slip down.
1896 Newark (New Jersey) Daily Advocate 26 July 3 A tight fitting woven belt, with hooks, to which the skirt is safety pinned.
1912 E. Hayes Two Comrades x. 106 His mother went every night and safety-pinned him between the sheets.
1950 R. Moody Little Britches ix. 79 Instead of giving me the quarter in my hand, she put it into the pocket of my blouse and safety-pinned it in.
1971 Country Life 6 May 1087/1 Fortunately, I had sent the engineer over the side to safety-pin the bombs beforehand.
1975 Listener 6 Feb. 176/1 Delysia dressed me in her clothes, safety-pinned me all down the back.
2003 N.Y. Sun (Nexis) 7 Oct. 17 The pink ribbon..to promote breast cancer awareness—dutifully safety-pinned on lapels of the socially conscious for the past 11 years.
2. transitive. With on. To attach with a safety-pin. Also figurative.
ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > industry > working with tools or equipment > fastening > fasten [verb (transitive)] > with pins or pegs > with specific type > attach to
safety-pin1919
1919 ‘K. Mansfield’ Let. 30 Oct. (1928) I. 270 Her ears which are neatly buttonholed on to the sides of her head and not just safety-pinned on as most babies' are.
1922 L. G. Troubridge His Grace gives Notice iii. 50 The crocheted lace collar..had seemed so dressy when she safety-pinned it on in her bedroom.
1960 P. A. Bennett in J. Pudney Pick of Today's Short Stories XI. 12 The buttons on my coat will have to be sewn on..so she safety-pinned them on.
2008 E. Favilla Seventeen presents 500 Style Tips p. 025 Add personality to your book bag by safety-pinning on a chain necklace.
Derivatives
'safety-pinned adj.
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1901 E. A. Fletcher Woman Beautiful xiv. 476 Strained so tightly around the hips that accidents to the safety-pinned plaquet cause most embarrassing, when not horrifying, disclosures!
1988 Spin July 86/4 Great timing if you were a safety-pinned punk.
2005 N.Y. Times (National ed.) 9 July a20/4 Their faces and their clothes—like the heavily lined eyes and the safety-pinned cheeks of the punk era—tell the story.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2011; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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