Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • noun A small firm cushion into which pins are stuck when not in use.
  • noun An object of frequent criticism or hurtful treatment.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun A cushion into which pins are stuck when not in use.
  • noun A plant of the genus Scabiosa, the scabious: so called with reference to the soft convex flower-head.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • noun A small cushion, in which pins may be stuck for use.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun A small device designed to receive sewing pins, usually pillow-like; more recently also magnetic.
  • noun colloquial Someone who receives regular hypodermic needle injections.
  • noun A flowering plant in genus Chaenactis.
  • verb To multiply stick or jab, as with pins into a pincushion.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • noun a small stiff cushion into which pins are stuck ready for use

Etymologies

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

pin +‎ cushion

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