pin-railn.
/ˈpɪnreɪl/, U.S. /ˈpɪnˌreɪl/ 1. Music. A rail running beneath the keys of a keyboard, fitted with pins which pass through the keys to maintain and control their downward movement.There are normally two rails, one positioned at the outer extremity of the keys, and the other at the point of balance.
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the world > space > relative position > horizontal position or condition > [noun] > a horizontal object or part > rail > for pegs or pins
pin-rail1855
1855 E. J. Hopkins Organ II. x. 45 Each manual key is punctured towards its centre with a small hole, passing downwards, to admit a metal pin, that rises from a piece of wood or pin-rail beneath.
1875 J. Stainer & W. A. Barrett Dict. Musical Terms (1898) 341 The pieces of wood on each side of the manual, to which the pin-rails are firmly fixed, are called key checks.
1877 J. Stainer Organ ii. §24 Under the keys a series of pins are arranged on a piece of wood forming a pin-rail. These pins fit easily into holes in the keys and prevent them from oscillating.
1988 Organbuilder May 14/1 Many familiar problems were observed with the actions:... Flexing of square-beams, coupler beams and key balance pin rails causing consequent increased weight of touch when intermanual couplers were used.
2. Nautical. A rail on the deck of a ship in which belaying pins are fixed to secure running rigging. Cf. pin-rack n.
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society > travel > travel by water > vessel, ship, or boat > equipment of vessel > other equipment of vessel > [noun] > pin for coiling of running ropes > hoop or rack for use with
spider-hoop1846
spider1860
pin-rack1869
pin-rail1870
1870 Causes of Reduction of Amer. Tonnage (U.S. Congress House Committee) 70 Main rail, of angle iron, 71/ 2 by 31/ 2 by 3/ 8 inches, riveted to bulwarks with angle iron on inside rail, 21/ 2 by 21/ 2 by 3/ 8 inches, for fixing greenheart pin rail.
1904 J. London Sea-wolf xvii. 169 I was once more buried beneath the pounding seas and clinging for life to the pin-rail at the foot of the foremast.
1948 F. Wightman Wind is Free i. 19 I stopped at the break of the poop and sat down on the pinrail on the port side.
1997 Classic Boat May 28/1 The existing spec also departs from the average in choosing to fit galvanised steel..for most of the major deck hardware, including the gammon iron, goose neck, rudder head fittings and the main halyard pin rail beside the mast.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2006; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.1855