a small amount of money that you earn, especially when this is used to buy things that you want rather than things that you need 小额闲钱 I earn a little pin money doing ironing for other people. 我为别人熨烫赚了一点零花钱。
Word Originlate 17th cent.: from pin in the sense ‘decorative clasp for the hair or a garment’ + money. The term originally denoted an allowance made to a woman for dress and other personal expenses by her husband.