kingpin

king +‎ pin

• IPA^(key): /ˈkɪŋ.pɪn/

kingpin (plural kingpins)

1. (motorized vehicles) The axis around which steered wheels pivot; a bolt that holds the axis in place—a kingbolt.
2. (ten-pin bowling) The pin at the centre of the triangle of bowling pins (originally the tallest pin in kayles). Sometimes also the headpin at the apex.
3. The most important person in an undertaking or organization.
4. The bolt holding together the truck of a roller skate or skateboard.

• (most important person): big cheese, big enchilada, big tamale, big kahuna, bigwig, big wheel, grand poobah, head honcho, muckety muck, top banana, top dog, big noise

• pink gin, pinking

From English kingpin.

• Hyphenation: king‧pin

kingpin

1. a kingpin; the most important person in an undertaking or organization