Толковый словарь английского языка Oxford English Reference - pen

abbr. International Association of Poets, Playwrights, Editors, Essayists, and Novelists. PEN 1. n. & v. --n. 1 an instrument for writing or drawing with ink, orig. consisting of a shaft with a sharpened quill or metal nib, now more widely applied. 2 a (usu. prec. by the) the occupation of writing. b a style of writing. 3 Zool. the internal feather-shaped cartilaginous shell of certain cuttlefish, esp. squid. --v.tr. (penned, penning) 1 write. 2 compose and write. Phrases and idioms pen and ink n. 1 the instruments of writing. 2 writing. pen-and-ink adj. drawn or written with ink. pen-feather a quill-feather of a bird's wing. pen-friend a friend communicated with by letter only. pen-light a small electric torch shaped like a fountain-pen. pen-name a literary pseudonym. pen-pal colloq. = pen-friend. pen-pusher colloq. derog. a clerical worker. pen-pushing colloq. derog. clerical work. put pen to paper begin writing. Etymology: ME f. OF penne f. L penna feather 2. n. & v. --n. 1 a small enclosure for cows, sheep, poultry, etc. 2 a place of confinement. 3 an enclosure for sheltering submarines. 4 a Jamaican farm or plantation. --v.tr. (penned, penning) (often foll. by in, up) enclose or shut in a pen. Etymology: OE penn, of unkn. orig. 3. n. a female swan. Etymology: 16th c.: orig. unkn. 4. n. US sl. = PENITENTIARY n. 1. Etymology: abbr.