Ogden Johnson III wrote:

"Njord" wrote:



Hmm, replying to my own post. But wondering if this has anything to do with
the expression 'to pull the pin'?



Hand grenade pins and belaying pins have nothing in common.

Nor do police badges. In PD jargon (at least in the NYPD), 'to pull the
pin' means to retire. In olden days, the badge was secured to the
uniform with a large separate safety pin. Later badges had a pin as an
integral part of the badge. Pulling the pin meant that the badge was
removed forever.