kingpin

English

kingpin (sense 1) of a Ford Model T

Etymology

From king +‎ pin.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈkɪŋ.pɪn/

• Audio (US):

  (file)

Noun

kingpin (plural kingpins)

2. (automotive) The axis around which steered wheels pivot; a bolt that holds the axis in place.

   Synonym: kingbolt

   • 2000, Jared Diamond, Why Is Sex Fun?, Phoenix, →ISBN, page 152:

     The employees brought back the apparently disappointing news that almost all components showed signs of wear. The sole exceptions were the kingpins, which remained virtually unworn. To the employees’ surprise, [Henry] Ford, instead of expressing pride in his well-made kingpins, declared that the kingpins were overbuilt, and that in the future they should be made more cheaply.

3. (automotive) The pivot or connector between a tractor and trailer in the fifth-wheel coupling of semi-trailer truck.
4. (figurative, informal) The most important person in a usually evil undertaking or organization, often a druglord.

   Synonyms: big cheese, big enchilada; see also Thesaurus:important person

   Coordinate term: queenpin

   • 2008, BioWare, Mass Effect, Redwood City: Electronic Arts, →ISBN, →OCLC, PC, scene: Salarians: Culture Codex entry:

     The rare salarian females are cloistered on their worlds out of tradition and respect. Powerful female Dalatrasses are dynasts and political kingpins. They determine the political course of their respective regions through shrewd negotiation.

5. (ten-pin bowling) The pin at the centre of the triangle of bowling pins (originally the tallest pin in kayles). Sometimes also the headpin at the apex.
6. The bolt holding together the truck of a roller skate or skateboard.

Derived terms

• kingpin to rear axle

Related terms

• linchpin

Descendants

• → Cebuano: kingpin

Translations

auto part

• Bulgarian: ос (bg) f (os)
• Danish: kongetap c (rail: between the freight car and the semi-trailer)
• Finnish: olkatappi
• German: Königszapfen m, Königsbolzen
• Polish: przednia oś zwrotnicy f
• Russian: ось (ru) f (osʹ), вал (ru) m (val), шкво́рень (ru) m (škvórenʹ)
• Serbo-Croatian: osovina (sh)

most important person

• Finnish: napamies
• German: Hauptperson (de) f, wichtigster Mann m, Dreh- und Angelpunkt (de) m, entscheidende Figur f, Großkopferter (de) m, Bonze (de) m, Nummer eins f
• Hungarian: fejes (hu), góré (hu), nagykutya (hu)
• Indonesian: gembong (id)
• Polish: gruba ryba (pl) f, szycha (pl) f
• Portuguese: manda-chuva (pt)
• Russian: центра́льная фигу́ра n (centrálʹnaja figúra), ва́жное лицо́ n (vážnoje licó)
• Spanish: jefazo, mandamás (es)
• Swedish: stöttepelare (sv)

Anagrams

• pink gin, pinking

Cebuano

Etymology

Borrowed from English kingpin.

Pronunciation

• Hyphenation: king‧pin

Noun

kingpin

1. kingpin
   1. (transport) axis where which steered wheels pivot; bolt that holds the pivot in place
   2. most important person in an undertaking or organization

Tagalog

Etymology

Borrowed from English kingpin.

Pronunciation

• (Standard Tagalog) IPA^(key): /ˈkiŋpin/ [ˈkim.pɪn̪]
• Rhymes: -iŋpin
• Syllabification: king‧pin

Noun

kingpin (Baybayin spelling ᜃᜒᜅ᜔ᜉᜒᜈ᜔)

1. kingpin
   1. (transport) axis where which steered wheels pivot; bolt that holds the pivot in place
   2. most important person in an undertaking or organization

Further reading

• “kingpin”, in Pambansang Diksiyonaryo | Diksiyonaryo.ph, Manila, 2018.