pen

a writing implement with a point from which ink flows an enclosure for confining livestock a portable enclosure in which babies may be left to play a correctional institution for those convicted of major crimes female swan produce a literary work

"She composed a poem"

"He wrote four novels"

otheruses A pen is a writing instrument which applies ink to some surface. Pens may be categorized by the kind of tip on them. The main modern types are ballpoint pens, fountain pens and felt-tipped pens.It was first patented (invented - acording to some sources) on January 24, 1906 by Croatian scientist penkala.hr - Slavoljub Penkala.

Terms and expressions - Originally the word meant quill, and is derived from ''penna'', which is Latin for feather. This is because early pens were made from goose feathers by carving the feather with a penknife. Pen is also used as a verbal expression of "to create" or "to write"; for example, "Today, I think I'll pen the Great Canadian Novel." Pens may also be known, although not very commonly, as ''frindles''. This word was invented by the author Andrew Clements in his novel ''Frindle'', the premise of which is that a schoolboy decides to call pens "frindles" and the usage becomes common throughout America.

Types - Types of pens currently in use include the ballpoint pen, the fine-line marker pen, the artist's pen, and the fountain pen. A ballpoint pen is a writing instrument, more specifically a pen, similar to a pencil in size and shape. There are two basic types of ball point pen: disposable and refillable. The ball point pen was invented in 1938 by the HungaryHungarian journalist Laszlo Biro (In fact, the translation for ball pen in Argentina is ''birome'' because the inventor lived there for many years). It was originally invented for the Royal Air ForceBritish RAF, as problems occurred with fountain penfountain pens due to the low air pressure aboard planes in flight.An erasable pen is a kind of pen whose ink can be erased. It is usually a ballpoint pen. Gel pens are sometimes erasable as well.

Differences with other writing instruments -

(contrast with brush)

Pens in culture - According to urban legend, NASA spent millions of dollars during the 1960s to develop a Fisher space penspace pen, which could work in the absence of gravity and air pressure, and in extreme temperatures (The usual, comedic punch-line is "The Soviet UnionSoviets used a 50¢ pencil"). In truth, the pen was developed long before the space program, by folks that wanted a pen that would write upside down. Prior to its discovery by NASA, American space missions did rely on lead pencils, but they tended to break, creating dangerous floating debris that could get in an astronaut's eye or create a short circuit, and they were prone to burning in a high-oxygen atmosphere.After a failed break in the music career, Hollywood actor Johnny Depp became a pen salesman. ''American Idol'' singing competition finalist Jon Peter Lewis was mocked by judge Simon Cowell as looking like a pen salesman, a moniker that stuck on him throughout the competition.

See also -

Pencil

Dip pen

Fountain pen

Writing and drawing

Quill

Pen spinning

External links -

snopes.com - Urban Legends: the "Space Pen"Category:Writing !instrumentsCategory:Stationery de:Stifteo:Plumo? !(skribilo)fr:Styloid:Pennl:Pen ja:ペンpt:Canetasimple:Penfi :Kynäzh:筆

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