pin·cush·ion

(pĭn′ko͝osh′ən)

1. A small firm cushion into which pins are stuck when not in use.

2. An object of frequent criticism or hurtful treatment: "a hapless pincushion [who] contemplates registering a complaint with his girlfriend" (Village Voice).

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

pincushion

(ˈpɪnˌkʊʃən)

(Knitting & Sewing) a small well-padded cushion in which pins are stuck ready for use

Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

pin•cush•ion

(ˈpɪnˌkʊʃ ən)

n.

a small cushion into which pins are stuck until needed.

[1625–35]

ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:

Noun

pincushion - a small stiff cushion into which pins are stuck ready for use

cushion - a soft bag filled with air or a mass of padding such as feathers or foam rubber etc.

Translations

وِسادَة إبر ودَبابيس

jehelníček

nålepude

Nadelkissen

agujero

pelote à épingles

tûpárna

nálapúîi

appuntaspillicuscinetto puntaspilli

nålepute

ihelnica

iğnedenlik

针垫

pincushion

[ˈpɪnˌkʊʃən] N → acerico m, almohadilla f

Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005

pincushion

[ˈpɪnkʊʃ^ən] n → pelote f à épingles

Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005

pincushion

[ˈpɪnˌkʊʃn] n → (cuscinetto) puntaspilli m inv

Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995

(pin) noun

1. a short, thin, pointed piece of metal used eg to hold pieces of fabric, paper etc together, especially when making clothes. The papers are fastened together by a pin.

2. a similar but more ornamental object. a hat-pin.

verb – past tense, past participle pinned –

1. to fasten with a pin. She pinned the material together.

2. to hold by pressing against something. The fallen tree pinned him to the ground.

ˈpincushion noun

a small cushion or similar object into which pins are pushed for keeping.

ˈpinhole noun

a hole made by a pin. A pinhole camera does not need a lens.

ˈpinpoint verb

to place or show very exactly. He pinpointed the position on the map.

ˈpin-up noun

1. a picture of an attractive girl (or man), often pinned on a wall. He has dozens of pin-ups in his room; (also adjective) a pin-up girl.

2. the girl (or man). She's the favourite pin-up of the soldiers.

pin down

to make (someone) give a definite answer, statement, opinion or promise. I can't pin him down to a definite date for his arrival.

pins and needles

a tingling feeling in one's hands, arms, feet or legs. I've got pins and needles in my arm.

Mentioned in

References in classic literature

She was still examining the Professor's pincushion.

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"I don't just remember whether I stuck it on the pincushion or laid it in the china tray.

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Two little trunks were corded in one end of the room; and on the table before the window--on the pincushion the great fat pincushion lined with pink inside, and twilled like a lady's nightcap--lay a letter.

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"A pincushion upon my coach would please me just as well." "Never mention honour," cries the aunt.

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A little pincushion, a little housewife, a little book, a little workbox, a little set of tables and weights and measures, and a little woman, all in one.

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'Bless the Baby!' exclaimed Miss Betsey, unconsciously quoting the second sentiment of the pincushion in the drawer upstairs, but applying it to my mother instead of me, 'I don't mean that.

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Tupman in full brigand's costume, with a very tight jacket, sitting like a pincushion over his back and shoulders, the upper portion of his legs incased in the velvet shorts, and the lower part thereof swathed in the complicated bandages to which all brigands are peculiarly attached.

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Everything belonging to Miss Nancy was of delicate purity and nattiness: not a crease was where it had no business to be, not a bit of her linen professed whiteness without fulfilling its profession; the very pins on her pincushion were stuck in after a pattern from which she was careful to allow no aberration; and as for her own person, it gave the same idea of perfect unvarying neatness as the body of a little bird.

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"You are certainly a wonder, my dear, and I fancy you'd make a splendid pincushion. If you belonged to me, I'd wear smoked glasses when I looked at you."

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His arms and legs were like great pincushions of those shapes, and his attire disguised him absurdly; but I knew his half-closed eye at one glance.

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Into these bowls, Mrs Squeers, assisted by the hungry servant, poured a brown composition, which looked like diluted pincushions without the covers, and was called porridge.

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Embroidered braces, smart smoking-caps, quaint pincushions, gorgeous slippers, glittering purses, all bore witness to the popularity of the friend of the women.

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