Hatpin

Hatpin

A hatpin is a decorative pin for holding a hat to the head, usually by the hair. In Western culture, a hatpin is almost solely a female item and is often worn in a pair. They are typically around 20cm in length, with the pinhead being the most decorated part.

The hatpin was invented to hold wimples and veils in place, and was hand-made. In Britain, demand eventually outgrew the number that could be supplied by hand-making, and they began to be imported from France. In 1832, an American machine was invented to manufacture the pins, and they became much more affordable. In Britain, they rose to popularity towards the end of the Victorian era, and continue to be a popular accessory.

Hatpins are also collectible items, and there is an American Hatpin Society for collectors.

References

*"Encyclopædia Britannica" < [http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-9039508] > Accessed August 16, 2005.
*"The Encyclopedia of Hatpins and Hatpin Holders" by Lillian Baker


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Look at other dictionaries:

  • hatpin — n. a long sturdy pin used by women to secure a hat to their hair. [WordNet 1.5] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • hatpin — [hat′pin΄] n. a long, ornamental pin for fastening a woman s hat to her hair …   English World dictionary

  • hatpin — UK [ˈhætˌpɪn] / US noun [countable] Word forms hatpin : singular hatpin plural hatpins a long sharp pin that a woman uses to keep her hat on her head …   English dictionary

  • hatpin — /hat pin /, n. a long pin for securing a woman s hat to her hair, often having a bulbous decorative head of colored glass, simulated pearl, or the like. [1890 95; HAT + PIN] * * * ▪ ornament       long, ornamental pin used for decoration and for… …   Universalium

  • hatpin — [[t]hæ̱tpɪn[/t]] hatpins N COUNT A hatpin is a metal pin which can be pushed through a woman s hat and through her hair to keep the hat in position …   English dictionary

  • hatpin — /ˈhætpɪn/ (say hatpin) noun a long, often decorated pin, used by women to secure a hat to the hair …  

  • hatpin — noun A long straight pin, often with a decorative head, used to secure a womans hat to her hair …   Wiktionary

  • hatpin — hat|pin [ˈhætˌpın] n a long pin that is used to make a woman s hat stay on her head …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • hatpin — hat|pin [ hæt,pın ] noun count a long sharp pin that a woman uses to keep her hat on her head …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • hatpin — n. pin that holds a hat in place …   English contemporary dictionary

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