pin-cushion

Noun

pincushion (plural pincushions)

1. A device, originally like a small, stuffed cushion, designed to have sewing pins and needles stuck into it to store them safely; some modern pincushions hold the objects magnetically.
   • Then for womens cloaths, the cabadge of cloath of ſilver, brancht Sattin, and the like, went for pin-cuſhions, pin-pillows, womens purſes; and if black, Church-wardens capes.1671, [Richard Head (denies authorship); Francis Kirkman (purported)], “He is Bound Prentice to a Taylor, the Knavery of that Trade, His Master of a Stitch, He is Turn’d over to a Baker, who Misusing...
2. A flowering plant in the genus Leucospermum.
   • [S]ee how the knowledge of the climate tolerances of one South African shrub, the Saldana pincushion (Leucospermum tomentosum) is integrated with projections of a global circulation model applied to the southern tip of South Africa [...].2008, Fred Van Dyke, “Biodiversity Conservation and Climate Change”, in Conservation Biology: Foundations, Concepts, Applications, 2nd edition, Dordrecht: Springer Science+Business Media, →ISBN...
3. A flowering plant in the genus Scabiosa.
   • Scabiosa, often called mourning bride, pincushion flower, and sweet scabious, is an easily grown, old-fashioned, half-hardy annual. It is very attractive and satisfactory both for cutting and for borders and beds.1950 October, S. L. Emsweller, “Scabiosa”, in Growing Annual Flowering Plants (U.S. Department of Agriculture Farmers’ Bulletin; no. 1171), Washington, D.C.: U.S. Government Printing Office, →OCLC...
4. A coral bead plant, coral moss, or English baby tears (Nertera granadensis), an ornamental plant.
5. A dustymaiden, a flowering plant in the genus Chaenactis.
   • An abundant wildflower following good winter rains, Fremont pincushion [Chaenactis fremontii] features heads composed entirely of white or pinkish disk flowers.1989 April, Janice Emily Bowers, “Fremont Pincushion”, in 100 Desert Wildflowers of the Southwest, Tucson, Ariz.: Southwest Parks and Monuments Association, published January 1998 (5th printing)...
6. A pincushion cactus, of the genera Escobaria or Mammillaria.
   • Alverson's pincushion cactus (Coryophantha vivipara var. alversonii), under status review by the USF&WS for possible listing as threatened or endangered, is reported to occur the along the northwest boundary of the WSA.1990, “Sheephole/Cadiz: CDCA 305”, in California Statewide Wilderness Study Report, volume 5, part 4, Washington, D.C.; Sacramento, Calif.: Bureau of Land Management, →OCLC, page 5

See all 10 meanings of pincushion