1
: the terminal section of a bird's wing including the carpus, metacarpus, and phalanges
broadly
: wing
2
: feather, quill
also
: flight feathers
pinioned; pinioning; pinions
1
a
: to disable or restrain by binding the arms
b
: to bind fast : shackle
2
: to restrain (a bird) from flight especially by cutting off the pinion of one wing
1
: a gear with a small number of teeth designed to mesh with a larger wheel or rack
2
: the smaller of a pair or the smallest of a train of gear wheels
Cite this Entry
“Pinion.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pinion. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.
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