bodkin
- noun
- /ˈbɒd.kɪn/
- Archaic
- During the Renaissance, women favored using a jeweled bodkin that not only held their hair but also served as a fashion statement.
Examples
-
Unless, of course, we all memorize Shakespeare like Huck Finn did ("To be or not to be; there's the bare bodkin...").
Blog text (17) -
In the 18th century, ladies often adorned their hairstyles with a decorated bodkin to secure intricate arrangements.
-
The historical novel described how the protagonist used a finely crafted bodkin to fasten her hair for the evening ball.
Synonyms
A long thin pin women use to hold a hat in their hair
How Long
Surface Forms
Etymology
Bodkin was also used for a long, thin hairpin; imagine a decorative 'pin' that holds hair in place, and you will see why the same word fits hairpins as well as other small pointed tools.