English Explanatory Dictionary

kingpin

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. The axis around which steered wheels pivot; a bolt that holds the axis in place.
  2. The pivot or connector between a tractor and trailer in the fifth-wheel coupling of semi-trailer truck.
  3. The most important person in a usually evil undertaking or organization, often a druglord.
  4. The pin at the centre of the triangle of bowling pins (originally the tallest pin in kayles). Sometimes also the headpin at the apex.
  5. The bolt holding together the truck of a roller skate or skateboard.

Pronunciation

/ˈkɪŋ.pɪn/ LL-Q1860 (eng)-Wodencafe-kingpin.wav

Word forms

kingpin kingpins

Etymology

From king + pin.

Synonyms

kingbolt big cheese big enchilada top boy baron big gun big kahuna big man big name big noise big shot bigwig big wheel boss grand poobah head honcho heavy hitter heavyweight high muckamuck high muckety-muck king of all one surveys king of the castle king of the hill kingpin macher mayor muckamuck muckety muck mugwump numero uno panjandrum poobah rooster somebody top banana top cat top dog top gun very important person VIP wheel

Related words

linchpin

Derived words

kingpin to rear axle

Translations

Bulgarian: ос Danish: kongetap Finnish: olkatappi German: Königszapfen German: Königsbolzen Polish: przednia oś zwrotnicy Russian: ось Russian: вал Russian: шкво́рень Serbo-Croatian: osovina Swedish: spindelbult
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