verb / noun
pinion
A bird's wing or its outer flight feathers.
The eagle spreads its broad pinions and rises above the trees.
Etymology
The French source names a wing or feather. English preserves the connection between the bird's wing and the flight feathers that form its outer edge.
More examples
- Several damaged pinions keep the hawk from flying.
- The guard pinions the intruder's arms behind his back.
- The sanctuary does not pinion birds to prevent flight.
Forms
pinion · pinions · pinioned · pinioning