hairpin

[hair-pin]

noun

1. a slender U -shaped piece of wire, shell, etc., used by women to fasten up the hair or hold a headdress.

adjective

1. (of a road, curve in a road, etc.) sharply curved back, as in a U shape.

   a hairpin turn.

hairpin

/ ˈhɛəˌpɪn /

noun

1. a thin double-pronged pin used by women to fasten the hair

2. (modifier) (esp of a bend in a road) curving very sharply

Word History and Origins

Origin of hairpin¹

First recorded in 1770–80; hair + pin

Example Sentences

Light rain began to fall after about 20 laps and on lap 23 Hamilton got off line through the banked Hugenholtzbocht hairpin.

From BBC

While the meetings at the White House went smoothly, he has made hairpin turns in American foreign policy before and he could do so again.

From BBC

But Norris went off track on the exit of Turn One and came close to losing control at the hairpin a number of times.

From BBC

He ran on to the kerb at Degner One, twice had an oversteer moment at the hairpin, and then a big wobble out of the final chicane.

From BBC

Leclerc challenged Russell for second, tracking right behind the Mercedes from laps 25 to 28 before a snap at the hairpin gave Russell some breathing space.

From BBC