safety pin

¹

noun

1. a pin bent back on itself to form a spring, with a guard to cover the point.

safety-pin

²

[ seyf-tee-pin ]

verb (used with object)

, safe·ty-pinned, safe·ty-pin·ning.

1. to secure or affix with a safety pin:

   to safety-pin a child's mittens to his coat sleeve.

safety pin

noun

1. a spring wire clasp with a covering catch, made so as to shield the point when closed and to prevent accidental unfastening
2. another word for pin

Word History and Origins

Origin of safety pin¹

First recorded in 1855–60

Origin of safety pin²

First recorded in 1915–20

Example Sentences

Sometimes you don’t even need safety pins, and after dry cleaning, it stays on still sticky.

From Los Angeles Times

“But all the negotiation channels or mechanisms that North and South Korea had for preventing escalation or misunderstandings are gone. The safety pin has been pulled out.”

From Los Angeles Times

Jones recommends “tagging” any items you’re still wavering on with a safety pin.

From Seattle Times

She had a box of safety pins in one hand and a sewing kit in the other.

From Literature

In the other incident, a worker removing landing gear safety pins was struck by a wing when a tow driver moved the plane.

From Seattle Times