Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
Hide Quotations Hide Etymology
About this entry:
First published 1960 (SND Vol. V).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1706-1728, 1786-1813
[1,1,1,0,0,0,0,0,1,1,1,1,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0]
JINKER, n. Also ginker. One who jinks; one devoted to amusement, a libertine; a giddy or wanton girl (Ayr. 1786 Burns To Maj. Logan x.); a prostitute. Applied fig. to a high-spirited nimble animal. [′dʒɪŋkər]Fif. 1706 J. Watson Choice Coll. i. 30:
A Bon-companion and a Drinker, A delicate and dainty Ginker.Sc. 1728 Ramsay Poems (S.T.S.) II. 52:
Where Mates, some greedy, some deep Drinkers, Contend with thriftless Mates or Jinkers?Ayr. 1786 Burns Auld Mare vii.:
That day, ye was a jinker noble, For heels an' win'!Rnf. 1813 E. Picken Poems I. 97:
Frae dark close mou's the jinkers craw Ha! — will ye gie's a gill, sir?
You may wish to vary the format shown below depending on the citation style used.
"Jinker n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 4 Apr 2026 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/jinker>
