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

In conferences to decide cases, they’d sometimes pass around whimsical props like a clothespin to signal members to “hold their noses” and vote unanimously to project institutional solidarity.

From Salon • Oct. 31, 2025

Keaton stuck a clothespin on the tip of her nose to make it smaller, and acted the part of an extrovert: big laugh, big hair and, when she stopped liking her hair, big hats.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 13, 2025

If so, you might remember classmates who constructed move-in ready mini kingdoms kitted out with gingham curtains, clothespin people and actual pieces of spaghetti.

From New York Times • Apr. 1, 2024

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

I have a tiny clothespin at the bottom of the calendar pages, so I don’t cheat and peek ahead — I want each month’s flower to be a surprise.

From "Rules" by Cynthia Lord