pin money

An allowance of money made by a husband to his wife for her separate use or private expenses. [NEEDLE-MONEY.] "The first metal pins were probably made of gold, because in England they were considered such an extravagant luxury that the makers were not allowed to sell them publicly except on two days of the year. Then it became the custom, at the beginning of each year, for husbands to give their wives money to buy a few pins. To this day, for this reason, money allowed to a woman for her private spending is called 'pin-money. "-Youth's Companion, Nov. 12, 1893. pin-patches, s. pl. Periwinkles. ( Prov.) *pin-pillow, s. 1. Ord. Lang.: A pincushion. 2. Bot.: Opuntia cura avica.