pen

pen

pen¹ [pen]

n.

[ME < OE penn, prob. akin to pinn,PIN]

1. a small yard or enclosure for domestic animals

2. the animals so confined

3. any small enclosure

vt.

penned or pent, penning

to confine or enclose in or as in a pen

pen² [pen]

n.

[ME penne < OFr, a pen, feather < L pinna, var. of penna, a feather < * petna < IE base * pet-, to fly: see FEATHER]

1. Historical a heavy quill or feather trimmed to a split point, used for writing with ink

2. now, any of various devices used in writing or drawing with ink; specif.,

a) a device with a half-tubular metal point split into two nibs, now used esp. by artists and draftsmen

b) BALLPOINT (PEN)

c) FOUNTAIN PEN

3. the metal point for a PEN² (n. 2a)

4.

a) the pen regarded as an instrument of writing

b) literary style or expression

c) writing as a profession

5. Archaic a feather or quill; esp., a heavy wing feather

6. Zool. the quill-shaped internal shell of a squid

vt.

penned, penning

to write with or as with a pen [penned verses filled with pain]

☆ pen³ [pen ]

n.

Slang a penitentiary

pen⁴ [pen]

n.

[< ?]

a female swan