Pinking shears have a utilitarian function for cutting woven cloth. Pinking shears are scissors, the blades of which are sawtoothed instead of straight. The pinking shears design was patented by Louise Austin in 1893. In the neighbouring county of Norfolk the term "pinking" is used. Finally some white wines can be victims of "Rosissement" (pinking). Mr. Sproul ran a school out of the Pinking Hotel on Centre Street.