hairpin

American  

[hair-pin] / ˈhɛərˌpɪn /

noun

1. a slender U -shaped piece of wire, shell, etc., used by women to fasten up the hair or hold a headdress.

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adjective

1. (of a road, curve in a road, etc.) sharply curved back, as in a U shape.

   a hairpin turn.

hairpin British  

/ ˈhɛəˌpɪn /

noun

1. a thin double-pronged pin used by women to fasten the hair

2. (modifier) (esp of a bend in a road) curving very sharply

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Etymology

Origin of hairpin

First recorded in 1770–80; hair + pin

Explanation

A hairpin is a small clip or pin that's used to secure hair in place. A bride's fancy braided hairdo usually requires many hairpins and plenty of hairspray to hold it. A bobby pin is one type of hairpin, a small bent piece of metal that pins strands of hair against the scalp. Most hairpins share this narrow, bent shape, and it's from this sharp angle that the term "hairpin turn" gets its name. A bend in a road that doubles back in a tight curve is a hairpin turn or a hairpin bend. This slang meaning dates from the early 20th century.

Example Sentences

Juan Manuel Fangio steers his Alfa Romeo around the hairpin during the first F1 world championship race in Monaco in 1950.

From BBC • Jun. 1, 2026

After Leclerc claimed second, the Ferraris went side by side through the first-corner complex, Leclerc just holding on, before Hamilton reclaimed second into the hairpin the following lap.

From BBC • Mar. 15, 2026

Seeing the hairpin turns up close revealed why the Grand Prix is one of the world’s most adrenaline-pumping races.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 10, 2026

To reach Ghorjomi mosque, one of the biggest, we drove up hairpin mountain lanes, edged with blue hydrangeas, until we spotted the minaret.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 30, 2025

He was curled up so tight, he could hardly move, and he was holding what he was pretty sure was his mother’s hairpin.

From "A Tangle of Knots" by Lisa Graff