subs. (common).—In pl. = the legs. Hence, ON ONE’S PINS = (1) alive; (2) faring well; and (3) in good form.—GROSE (1785); VAUX (1819).
c. 1520. Hickscorner [HAWKINS, The Origin of the English Drama, i. 102].
| Than wolde I renne thyder on MY PYNNES | |
| As fast as I myght go. |
1628. EARLE, Microcosmographie. [Downeright scholler]. His body is not set upon nice PINNES … but his scrape is homely and his nod worse.
1783. BURGOYNE, The Lord of the Manor, iii. 3. I never saw a fellow better set upon his PINS.
1821. P. EGAN, Life in London, Intro. Therefore he must get upon his PINS how he can.
1842. P. EGAN, Song, ‘The By-blow of the Jug’ [FARMER, Musa Pedestris (1896), 144].
| Scarcely had Jack got ON HIS YOUNG PINS, | |
| When his mammy put him up to some very bad sins, | |
| And she taught him soon to swear and lie, | |
| And to have a finger in every pie. |
1889. Harper’s Magazine, LXXX. 269. Glad to hear that he is ON HIS PINS yet; he might have pegged out in ten years, you know.
2. (venery).—The penis: see PRICK: cf. PINCUSHION = female pudendum; and PUSH-PIN = copulation.
1635. GLAPTHORNE, The Lady Mother, i. 1.
| Lovell. Her Belly a soft Cushion where no sinner | |
| But her true love must dare stick a PIN in her. | |
| Grimes. That line has got the prick and prayse from all the rest. |
3. (common).—A trifle: the lowest standard of value: also PIN-HEAD. See BUTTON, CENT, FIG, POINT, RAP, RUSH, STRAW, &c.—B. E. (c. 1696). [In quots. 1470 and 1592 PREIN = pin, but is derived [JAMIESON] from Suio-Gothic Danish pren = a graving tool or any sharp instrument.]
1433. Babees Book [E.E.T.S.], 93.
| But when he is to highest power, | |
| yet he is not worth a PIN. |
1470. HENRY THE MINSTREL, Wallace, vii. 909, MS.
| Quhat gentill man had nocht with Ramsay beyne; | |
| Off courtlynes thai cownt him nocht a PREYNE. |
c. 1540. Doctour Doubble Ale, 72 [HAZLITT, Remains of the Early Popular Poetry of England, III. 306].
| He CARETH NOT A PYN, | |
| How much ther be wythin, | |
| So he the pot may wyn. |
1550. C. BANSLEY, A Treatyse, Shewing and Declaring the Pryde and Abuse of Women Now a Dayes [HAZLITT, Remains of the Early Popular Poetry of England, IV. 233].
| And therefore your fonde blynd skuses wyl not serve; | |
| They are not worth a PYN. |
d. 1555. LYNDSAY, Humanitie and Sensualitie, S. P. R., ii. 29.
| Thocht I ane servand long hes bene, | |
| My purchess is nocht worth ane PRENE. |
c. 1555. The Vpcheringe of the Messe [quoted in DYCE, Skelton, i. cxiv.].
| For if she were supprest, | |
| A PYN for all the rest. |
1596. SHAKESPEARE, Hamlet, i. 4. I do not set my life at a PIN’S fee.
[?]. Sir Andrew Barton [CHILD, Ballads, VII. 206].
| And tho’ he cared not a PIN | |
| For him and his company. |
1633. MARMION, A Fine Companion, II. i. 68. I do not care a PIN for her.
1678. COTTON, Scarronides, or Virgil Travestie [Works (1725), 90].
| But neither by the Nap, nor Tearing, | |
| Was it a PIN the worse for wearing. |
c. 1707. D’URFEY, Wit and Mirth; or Pills to Purge Melancholy (1707), ii. 112. For her Favour I CARE NOT A PIN.
1708–10. SWIFT, Polite Conversation, i. Here’s a PIN for that Lye; I’m sure Lyars had need of good Memories.
d. 1796. BURNS, Poems (Globe), 80, ‘Epistle to William Simpson,’ Postscript. My memory’s no worth a PREEN.
1886–96. MARSHALL, ‘Pomes’ from the Pink ’Un [‘Boycotting the Author’], 44. Not caring a PIN if the lotion was whiskey or unsweetened gin.
1887. R. L. STEVENSON, Underwoods, ‘The Scotsman’s Return from Abroad.’
| A bletherin’ clan, no worth a PREEN, | |
| As bad as Smith o’ Aiberdeen! |
1890. BOLDREWOOD, The Squatter’s Dream, 157. For two PINS I’d put a match in every gunyah on the place.
4. (old: now recognised).—A measure containing four-and-a-half gallons, or the eighth part of a barrel.—B. E. (c. 1696).
Verb. (thieves’).—To steal; TO NAB (q.v.).
PHRASES:—TO BE DOWN PIN = to be out of sorts; TO PUT IN THE PIN = to stop, arrest, or pull up: as a habit or indulgence; TO PIN ONESELF ON ANOTHER = to hang on; TO PIN DOWN (or TO THE GROUND) = (1) to secure, (2) to make sure, and (3) to attack with no chance of escape; PINNED TO A WIFE’S TAIL = petticoat-led; TO PIN ONE’S FAITH TO (or UPON ONE’S SLEEVE) = to trust implicitly: see also BOTTLE; MERRY-PIN; NICK.
