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 1968 (SND Vol. VII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

PINK, v.³, n.⁴ Also penk. Sc. usages:

I. v., tr., gen. with up, oot, etc.: to adorn, dress up, trick out (a person) (Bnff., Ayr. 1880 Jam.; Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928); I.Sc., Uls. 1965); intr., to strut, put on airs, “prink” (Jak.). Now dial. or poet. in Eng.Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 126:
They hae a sair pinkan-oot o' that lassie o' theirs, an', aifter a', she's nae great spot.Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928):
To pink op; to pink anesell op; to geng pinkin; a pinket bodie.m.Lth. 1911 Glasgow Herald (6 May):
A' the mairrit weemen had their caps on their heids, bonny an' white, the lace a' staircht an' pinkit oot.Sh. 1918 T. Manson Peat Comm. 43:
What wid Magnie Moad say whin I cam alang da hoose penkid up as prood as a woman?Sh. 1924 Ib. 51:
Dir edder getting things ta denk an penk demsells wi, or dan dir helpin idders dat wye.

II. n. A smart turn-out, a dressy outfit, a fine or showy carriage or bearing, a superior air (Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928), Sh. 1965). Hence pinksy, smartly-dressed, “dolled up” (Ork. 1929 Marw.; Uls. 1965).Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928):
To geng wi' a pink.Sh. 1919 T. Manson Peat Comm. 145:
Shu's gotten a penk ipun her noo . . . at's nedder moadrat or aesy.