A thumbtack (known as a pushpin or a drawing-pin in the UK, India, South Africa, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand)'s a short nail or pin with a large, slightly rounded head made of metal which's used to fasten documents to a background for public display and which can easily be inserted or removed by hand. Types of thumbtack The most common piecemeal thumbtacks are made by attaching a brass stem to a flat brass head. Some have colored plastic tops, to make them more attractive. Map pins, also… (More on Thumbtack)