Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

Hide Quotations Hide Etymology

Abbreviations Cite this entry

About this entry:
First published 1960 (SND Vol. V). Includes material from the 1976 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

‡JENKIN'S HEN, phr. Also Jinkin's-, Jinken's-, Jinkam's-, Jinkum's-.

1. A hen which never knew the cock; hence fig., an old maid. Gen. in phr. to live the life or dee the death o' Jenkin's hen (Gall. 1824 MacTaggart Gallov. Encycl. 283, Jinking's Hen; Rxb. 1825 Jam., 1923 Watson W.-B.; Bnff.² 1940).  Used as a nickname for an effeminate man (Dmf. 1844 J. W. Carlyle Letters (Froude 1883) I. 294).Abd. 1768 A. Ross Helenore (S.T.S.) 99:
I lear by far she dy'd like Jinken's hen, Or we again met yon unruly men.Sc. 1780 Edb. Eighth-Day Mag. (28 Feb.) 337:
I'm wae to let ye ken That I o' mine am maistly herrit, An' fast I pine like Jenkin's hen!Lnk. 1808 W. Watson Poems 47:
That ane wad think they wad be laith To board wi' men, An't warna fright to die the death O Jinkum's hen.s.Sc. 1821 A. Scott Poems 121:
I ance had sweethearts nine or ten . . . But oh! the death o' Jenkin's hen, I shudder at it.Sc. 1837 J. W. Carlyle Letters (Froude) I. 82:
It shall never be told that I died the death of Jenkin's hen.s.Sc. 1897 E. Hamilton Outlaws xx.:
But you needna suppose that the callants 'll let a lass sic as you die like Jenkin's hen.Abd. 1938 in A. Ross Works (S.T.S.) Notes 217:
“Jinken's hen, that niver sa' the cock,” is still known on Tarfside and on Deeside. Jinken himself has passed into complete oblivion.

2. In a transf. application in phr. ti dei the daith o' Jenkin's hen, to die for “the want o' braith” (Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.).