endpin
/ˈɛndpɪn/ · end·pin
noun
- A metal pin attached to the sole of a ballet dancer’s pointe shoe that provides support and balance while dancing on the tips of the toes. She tightened the endpin on her pointe shoes before the rehearsal to ensure she could stay en pointe longer.
- A small pin used to secure the end of a rope, cable, or similar object, preventing fraying or slipping. The climber clipped an endpin onto the rope to keep the line from unraveling.
Did you know? The introduction of the endpin in the early 1900s allowed ballerinas to achieve greater height and stability on pointe, dramatically expanding the possibilities of classical choreography.