Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1968 (SND Vol. VII). Includes material from the 1976 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

PLINK, n.¹, v.¹ Also pleenk-; pling (Jak.); plick-. [plɪŋk]

I. n. A short sharp sound such as is made by the sudden release of a taut string (Sh. 1866 Edm. Gl., pling), hence the sound of the violin or fiddle. Gen.Sc.Sh. 1916 J. Burgess Rasmie's Smaa Murr (December 24):
Da young haert laeps at da plink o da posh.

II. v. 1. intr. To make a sudden sharp sound; ppl.adj. plinkin, tinkling, pattering. Gen.Sc. Deriv. pleenkie, n., a method of shooting a marble so that it makes a sharp, tinkling noise (Ork. 1923 P. Ork. A.S. 67). Cf. Plunk.Sh. 1891 J. Burgess Rasmie's Büddie 89:
An peerie, plinkin watter-faas To ean anidder sang.

Hence tr. to pluck the strings of a fiddle or the like so as to produce short, sharp pizzicato notes, to strum (Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928), pling, plink).Sh. 1877 G. Stewart Fireside Tales 83:
An' plink my strings mair slowly.Sh. 1961 New Shetlander No. 59. 18:
So plink up dy strings, noo, an gie is a tün!

2. Of light: to shine in sudden short bursts, to glint, twinkle, blink (Sh. 1914 Angus Gl.; I.Sc. 1966). Deriv. plinkie (Sh. 1966). See Blinkie and cf. Norw. dial. blik, a glance, gleam; plicko (Ork. 1966), an electric torch or flashlight, a lantern.Sh. 1954 New Shetlander No. 40. 11:
Da muin wis sheenin ida lift An starns plinkin bricht.Sh. 1958 Shetland News (9 Dec.) 3:
Electric torches, or plinkies, as they were soon styled.