What does breastpin mean?
A breastpin is a decorative pin or brooch worn on the chest, used either to fasten a garment—such as a shawl, collar, or cravat—or simply as an ornament. The compound word is transparent in origin: it combines 'breast,' the part of the body where the piece is worn, with 'pin,' its functional form. Breastpins were especially common in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, when both men and women relied on them to secure clothing before zippers and modern fasteners became widespread. Many surviving examples are treasured as antiques, and some carry sentimental weight: Victorian mourning breastpins, for instance, often concealed a lock of a departed loved one's hair beneath glass. In contemporary English the word sounds distinctly old-fashioned, having largely given way to 'brooch,' but it remains useful in historical writing, antique dealing, and period fiction, where it evokes an era of formal dress and personal adornment.
nounA decorative pin or brooch worn on the breast, typically to fasten a garment or as an ornament.
- A decorative pin or brooch worn on the breast to fasten clothing or serve as ornament.
"She fastened her shawl with an antique silver breastpin."
"The portrait showed a gentleman whose cravat was secured by a modest gold breastpin."
"Among her grandmother's keepsakes was a mourning breastpin containing a woven lock of hair under glass."
Standard regular plural.
"The jeweller's case displayed an array of Victorian breastpins."
Before the safety pin existed, the breastpin held together the clothing of generations — and Victorian mourners even wove locks of a loved one's hair beneath its glass.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of breastpin
Breastpin is a straightforward English compound formed from 'breast,' from Old English 'brēost,' and 'pin,' from Old English 'pinn,' itself borrowed from Latin 'pinna,' meaning feather, wing, or pointed object. The compound arose in English, likely in the early modern period, to name pins worn on the chest. It shares its ultimate Latin root with words such as 'pinnacle' and 'pen.'
How breastpin is actually used
Somewhat old-fashioned or historical in tone today; 'brooch' is the far more common modern term. The word often appears in descriptions of antique jewelry, period fiction, and museum catalogues.
Easily confused with breastpin
A brooch is any ornamental pin fastening; a breastpin specifically emphasizes being worn on the breast or chest.