pinion

pin·ion ¹  (pnyn)

n.

1. The wing of a bird.

2. The outer rear edge of the wing of a bird, containing the primary feathers.

3. A primary feather of a bird.

tr.v. pin·ioned, pin·ion·ing, pin·ions

1.

a. To remove or bind the wing feathers of (a bird) to prevent flight.

b. To cut or bind (the wings of a bird).

2.

a. To restrain or immobilize (a person) by binding the arms.

b. To bind (a person's arms).

3. To bind fast or hold down; shackle.

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[Middle English, from Old French pignon, from Vulgar Latin *pinni, pinnin-, from Latin penna, pinna, feather; see pinna.]

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pin·ion ²  (pnyn)

n.

A small cogwheel that engages or is engaged by a larger cogwheel or a rack.

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[French pignon, from Old French peignon, probably from peigne, comb, from Latin pecten, from pectere, to comb.]

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pinion ¹

Noun

1. Chiefly poetic a bird's wing

2. the outer part of a bird's wing including the flight feathers

Verb

1. to immobilize (someone) by holding or tying his or her arms

2. to confine [Latin pinna wing]

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pinion ²

Noun

a cogwheel that engages with a larger wheel or rack [French pignon]

Thesaurus

Noun	1.	pinion - a gear with a small number of teeth designed to mesh with a larger wheel or rack cogwheel, gear, gear wheel, geared wheel - a toothed wheel that engages another toothed mechanism in order to change the speed or direction of transmitted motion lantern pinion, lantern wheel - a small pinion having cylindrical bars instead of teeth, used chiefly in inexpensive clocks
	2.	pinion - any of the larger wing or tail feathers of a bird flight feather, quill feather, quill feather, plumage, plume - the light horny waterproof structure forming the external covering of birds wing - a movable organ for flying (one of a pair) primary feather, primary quill, primary - one of the main flight feathers projecting along the outer edge of a bird's wing tail feather - feather growing from the tail (uropygium) of a bird
	3.	pinion - wing of a bird pennon bird - warm-blooded egg-laying vertebrates characterized by feathers and forelimbs modified as wings wing - a movable organ for flying (one of a pair)
Verb	1.	pinion - bind the arms of shackle restrain, confine, hold - to close within bounds, limit or hold back from movement; "This holds the local until the express passengers change trains"; "About a dozen animals were held inside the stockade"; "The illegal immigrants were held at a detention center"; "The terrorists held the journalists for ransom"
	2.	pinion - cut the wings off (of birds) disable, disenable, incapacitate - make unable to perform a certain action; "disable this command on your computer"