What does clothespin mean?
A clothespin is a small household implement used to fasten wet laundry to a clothesline so garments can dry outdoors without blowing away. The classic design consists of two prongs joined by a metal spring: squeezing the prongs opens the jaws, which then grip fabric when released. Most clothespins are made of wood or molded plastic, and they are inexpensive, durable, and found in households worldwide. In American English the object is called a clothespin, while British English uses clothes peg; the terms are interchangeable regional variants rather than distinct tools. Beyond the laundry line, clothespins have taken on a second life in crafts, photography displays, and improvised household fixes, giving the word a mildly resourceful, nostalgic connotation. Simple as it seems, the clothespin is a quietly ingenious piece of everyday engineering whose basic form has remained remarkably stable since the nineteenth century.
nounA small clip, typically of wood or plastic with two prongs joined by a spring, used to fasten laundry to a clothesline while it dries.
- A small clip, usually of wood or plastic with a sprung double prong, used to secure washed laundry to a clothesline while it dries.
"She pinned the wet sheets to the line with wooden clothespins before the wind picked up."
"He clipped the towels to the line one by one, the clothespins clicking softly in the morning air."
"The kids used clothespins and string to hang their artwork across the classroom wall."
Standard regular plural; used when referring to multiple pins collectively, as in a bag or supply of them.
"We bought a fresh pack of clothespins at the hardware store."
The spring-loaded clothespin was patented in 1853 by Vermont inventor David M. Smith — and his design is so sound that the ones in your laundry basket today are essentially unchanged.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of clothespin
Clothespin is a straightforward English compound of "clothes" (from Old English clāþas, plural of clāþ, meaning cloth or garment) and "pin" (from Old English pinn, ultimately from Latin pinna, meaning feather or pointed object). The compound arose in nineteenth-century American English to name the newly patented spring-loaded clip for hanging laundry; earlier versions of the device existed but lacked the spring mechanism. Its British counterpart, "clothes peg," reflects the same impulse to combine an existing word for garments with a word for a fastening device.
How clothespin is actually used
American English strongly prefers "clothespin," while British English uses "clothes peg" (or simply "peg"); both refer to the identical object. The word is neutral in register and appears in everyday domestic contexts. In craft and decorative contexts, clothespins are often used for purposes far removed from laundry, such as holding photos or sealing food bags.
Easily confused with clothespin
A clothes peg is simply the British term for the same object that Americans call a clothespin — they are regional variants, not different items.