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. See pin
   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

It’s also helpful to have sewing or safety pins, a straightedge, and a piece of chalk, but you can get by without those items.

From Outside Online

I’m that person who has pants with cuffs held up by carefully positioned safety pins.

From Washington Post

It was a massive hit, and the safety-pin dress a brilliant cartoonish cherry on top of it.

From The Daily Beast

In another short, the actress had to act like she was eating a doll head with a safety pin through it on a cracker.

From The Daily Beast

You know that he must have been a tormented genius, or one for whom everything clicked as tidily as a safety pin.

From The Daily Beast

About his body hung an old duck jacket, so rotted with rust and mildew as to lend scant anchorage for one brass safety pin.

From Project Gutenberg

It was of the safety-pin order, but made of gold and ornamented with small emeralds set as a four-leafed shamrock.

From Project Gutenberg

Now to divide for the neck: K 34, and slip these st on to a safety-pin.

From Project Gutenberg

Safety-pin employed in the toilet of Edward VI when an infant.

From Project Gutenberg

Already in the safety-pin and scarf-pin we have had instances of fastenings which at times are ornamental.

From Project Gutenberg