hairpin
UK[ˈheə.pɪn]US[ˈher.pɪn]
n
A thin, U-shaped piece of wire, plastic, or metal used to hold hair in place.
n
Something shaped like a hairpin, especially a sharp bend in a road.
Morpheme Breakdown
hair
pin
hair
pin
point, peak, edge
Etymology
The word 'hairpin' is a transparent endocentric compound from Modern English, directly combining two native Germanic elements. 'Hair', with its ancient Proto-Germanic root 'khæran', has always denoted the filaments growing from the body. 'Pin', entering English via Latin 'pinna', carries the core idea of a pointed fastener. The compound's logic is perfectly literal: a pin for the hair. Its semantic journey is straightforward, with no significant abstraction, as the modern meaning remains faithful to its compositional origins. The extended meaning describing a sharp road bend is a later metaphorical development based purely on the object's distinctive U-shape.
Analysis
Structure: hair + pin
- hair: From Old English 'hær', of Germanic origin; related to Dutch 'haar' and German 'Haar'. The core meaning is the thread-like strands growing from the skin of mammals, especially the human head. In this compound, it specifies the object's purpose.
- pin: From Old English 'pinn', from Latin 'pinna' meaning "point, peak, edge". It denotes a thin, stiff piece of wire or metal used for fastening or attaching things. In this compound, it specifies the object's form and function.
Examples
She secured her bun with a simple black hairpin.
The mountain road is famous for its dangerous hairpin turns.
An antique silver hairpin was discovered in the archaeological dig.