pinfold

American  

[pin-fohld] / ˈpɪnˌfoʊld /

noun

1. a pound for stray animals.

2. a fold, as for sheep or cattle.

3. a place of confinement or restraint.

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verb (used with object)

1. to confine in or as in a pinfold.

pinfold British  

/ ˈpɪnˌfəʊld /

noun

1. 1. a pound for stray cattle

   2. a fold or pen for sheep or cattle

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verb

1. (tr) to gather or confine in or as if in a pinfold

Etymology

Origin of pinfold

1150–1200; late Middle English pynfold for *pindfold, equivalent to Old English pynd ( an ) to impound (derivative of pund pound ³ ) + fold ²; replacing Middle English po ( u ) n ( d ) fold ( e ), late Old English pundfald

Example Sentences

This line is attributive to ‘men.’ pestered ... pinfold, crowded together in this cramped space, the Earth.

From Milton's Comus by Bell, William

It meant no more than inconveniently crowded; thus Milton: “Confined and pestered in this pinfold here”.

From English Past and Present by Palmer, Abram Smythe

With shrilling bleat for comfort hie To every pinfold, humankind; Ah, there the fostering teat is dry, The stranger mother proves unkind.

From The Modern Scottish Minstrel, Volume I. The Songs of Scotland of the past half century by Rogers, Charles

Another official surname especially connected with country life is Pinder, also found as Pinner, Pender, Penner, Ponder and Poynder, the man in charge of the pound or pinfold; cf.

From The Romance of Names by Weekley, Ernest

I seed that one cow o' thine i' the pinfold ageän as I wur a-coomin' 'ere.

From Becket and other plays by Tennyson, Alfred Tennyson, Baron

Related Words

• crate
• enclosure
• jail
• pen