clothespin

American  

[klohz-pin, klohthz-, klohs-] / ˈkloʊzˌpɪn, ˈkloʊðz-, ˈkloʊs- /

noun

1. a device, such as a forked piece of wood or plastic, for fastening articles to a clothesline.

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Etymology

Origin of clothespin

An Americanism dating back to 1840–50; clothes + pin

Example Sentences

Use a spring clothespin to secure the herb bundles to wires or other support.

From Seattle Times • Dec. 13, 2023

She became giddy over a working clothespin sold by Maria Fowler from Toronto’s The Little Dollhouse Company.

From New York Times • May 13, 2023

The Browns miscalculated, believing that their starving fans would clothespin their noses to escape the stench and instead fantasize about the Super Bowl possibilities with Watson helming the team.

From Washington Post • Jun. 22, 2022

Men in suits are not men who roll up their sleeves and get their hands dirty; besides, he's a man who clips closed his pants cuffs with a clothespin to make his bike ride safer.

From Salon • Mar. 18, 2022

One soldier made the others laugh: he wore a clothespin on his nose.

From "Milkweed" by Jerry Spinelli