Definition
A specialized cutting tool with serrated, zigzag-edged blades used in aircraft fabric covering work to cut fabric edges in a saw-tooth pattern that resists fraying and helps the edge lie flat under finishing tapes and dope.
Plain English
Scissors with zigzag blades that leave a saw-tooth edge instead of a straight cut. The jagged edge stops fabric from unraveling along the cut line.
Context Anchor
Seen in aircraft fabric covering and fabric repair procedures, especially when cutting patches or finishing tape.
Derivation
The verb 'to pink' (from at least the 14th century) means to pierce, perforate, or cut a decorative notched edge in cloth or leather. 'Shears' simply means a large pair of scissors. So 'pinking shears' literally means scissors that cut a notched edge — which is exactly what they do on aircraft fabric.
Why Pilots Care
On fabric-covered aircraft, a frayed edge under a finishing tape can lift, allow moisture in, and lead to covering failure. Using pinking shears on the covering material produces an edge that stays put and bonds cleanly under dope and tape.
Analogy
They work like sewing scissors that leave a zigzag edge on cloth, but in aircraft work the purpose is practical: a cleaner, more secure fabric edge.
Intuition Check
“Pinking” does not mean making the fabric pink. Here it means cutting the edge in a zigzag pattern.
Example Sentence 1
The technician used pinking shears to trim the fabric along the rib before applying the reinforcing tape.
Example Sentence 2
After doping, the pinking shears edges remained secure without additional stitching or tape.