Hairpins

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A type of fastener used to secure hair in place, often with a bobby pin or similar design; small and typically metal or plastic, they come in various styles for decorative purposes; tools that both hold hairstyles and can be used as fashion accessories
2. An accessory designed to grip sections of hair, aiding in hairstyle maintenance and creation; these items are available in numerous materials and sizes, highlighting both functionality and personal style; they can also serve as ornamental pieces that enhance the overall look
3. Implements specifically crafted to anchor and arrange hair, frequently used for intricate styles or simple updos; they vary in appearance and are often adorned, merging utility with aesthetics; such accessories may also play a role in cultural or traditional expressions of beauty

Etymology: "Hairpins" is simply the plural of "hairpin," a compound of "hair" and "pin." The pin half is an ancient word, but the compound itself appears in English only in 1788, which is late for such an everyday object. Its meaning stays literal for well over a century before the form takes on a second life. That second life came in 1906, when "hairpin" began to describe anything shaped like the U-shaped fastener, most famously the sharp double bend in a mountain road, the hairpin turn. The image is instantly visual: a road folding back on itself as tightly as two prongs of a pin pressed together.

Synonyms: bobby pins, clips, fasteners, hair accessories