kingpin
pronunciation
How to pronounce kingpin in British English:
UK [ˈkɪŋpɪn]
How to pronounce kingpin in American English:
US [ˈkɪŋˌpɪn]
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- Noun:
- the most important person in a group or undertaking
- bolt that provides a steering joint in a motor vehicle
- the front bowling pin in the triangular arrangement of ten pins
Word Origin
- kingpin (n.)
- also king-pin, 1801 as the name of the large pin in the game of kayles (similar to bowls except a club or stick was thrown instead of a ball; see "Games, Gaming and Gamesters' Laws," Frederick Brandt, London, 1871), from king with a sense of "chief" + pin (n.). The modern use is mainly figurative and is perhaps from the word's use as another name for the king-bolt (itself from 1825) in a machinery, though the figurative use is attested earlier (1867) than the literal.
Example
- 1. Since then stanley ho , a billionaire casino kingpin from macau , has bought the pig and the horse , and donated them to beijing museums .
- 2. Police said on friday they had detained a thai man , believed to be an associate of an alleged rhino poaching syndicate " kingpin " , at or tambo international airport in johannesburg .
- 3. " We must bring about an industrial pattern with high and new technology industries as the leader , basic and manufacturing industries as the kingpin and the service industry developing in all areas . "
- 4. Who became the new kingpin ?
- 5. He is a pawn , and he is a kingpin .