pinstripe
UK[ˈpɪnstraɪp]US[ˈpɪnstraɪp]
n
a very thin stripe, especially on a fabric.
n
a fabric or suit with such stripes.
Morpheme Breakdown
pin
stripe
pin
sense
stripe
sense
Etymology
the word pinstripe is a modern english compound, formed from the nouns 'pin' and 'stripe'. 'pin' derives from old english 'pinn', meaning a peg or a pointed object, and is used attributively here to denote something as fine or thin as a pin. 'stripe' comes from middle english, possibly related to middle dutch 'stripe', meaning a streak or a line. the compound first emerged in the late 19th century within the textile industry, where it logically described a fabric pattern featuring stripes as narrow as a pin. this literal description of a visual pattern later became the name for the fabric itself and a style of formal business attire.
Analysis
Structure: pin (sense) + stripe (sense)
pin (old english, functional role: attributive noun denoting something very thin or fine); stripe (middle english, functional role: core noun denoting a long, narrow band)
Examples
he wore a classic navy suit with a subtle pinstripe.
the pinstripe on the fabric was so fine it was almost invisible from a distance.
pinstripe suits are considered a staple of traditional business wear.