Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1956 (SND Vol. IV). Includes material from the 1976 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
FLINDRIKIN, adj. n., v. Also flinderkin, flindrekin; flinderskin, flinterkin (Ork.); flinri(c)kin, -en, flim-; flandrikan (Uls.2 1929); and curtailed form †flyndrig. [′flɪn(d)rɪkən]
I. adj. Light, flimsy, unsubstantial, esp. of material (Ork. 1929 Marw.; Abd.28 1952); showy, gaudy (Uls.2 1929); of persons: frivolous, empty-headed; flirtatious (Fif. 1808 Jam.).Abd. 1898 J. R. Imray Sandy Todd 25:
There's nane o' them that I see ony flinrikin kin' but a' rale substantial wark.Fif. 1899 “S. Tytler” Miss Nanse v.:
Poor bit dressed up “flinderkin” doll, with her mahogany skin and her “nipped” bairns' words.Sc. 1928 J. G. Horne Lan'wart Loon 17:
A flinrikin goon o' cramasie.
II. n. Something light, flimsy and unsubstantial, esp. of cloth or garments (Sh. 1866 Edm. Gl.; Kcb. c.1900; ne.Sc. 1952); also fig., of persons (Sh. 1866 Edm. Gl.), “an impudent woman, a deceiver” (Ayr. 1825 Jam., flyndrig), of a very thin oatcake or scone (Bnff.13 1914), of a slight snow-shower (Ork.5 1952).Abd. 1880 W. Robbie Glendornie xxix.:
There was mair honest wear in ae pair o' my best wheelin' or fingerin' than there is in sax pair o' yon thin flin'rikins.Abd. 1904 Abd. Wkly. Free Press (9 April):
They buy sic flimrikins o' things 't hae nae laist.Abd. 1929 J. Alexander Mains and Hilly 30:
It's aye some silly flinrikin 'at's o' nae eese gin it's been worn eence.
†III. v. To beguile (Ayr. 1825 Jam., flyndrig).
[O.Sc. flindrikin, c.1580 in Watson's Choice Coll. II. 54, in the sense of frivolous, a frivolous person. The word appears to be orig. a noun, of Du. orig. with dim. -kin ending, meaning “a butterfly,” cf. E.Fris. flinderke, flinnerk, id., cogn. with Flinder, v.2 In Sc. the form seems to have been confused with that of the ppl.adj. in -in(g) and to have been used as such. It is possible that there has been some conflation with Flanderkin, and Flanders lace or the weaving of cambric and fine linen done in Flanders.]You may wish to vary the format shown below depending on the citation style used.
"Flindrikin adj., n., v.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 20 Apr 2024 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/flindrikin>
