Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1976 (SND Vol. X).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1801-1828
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WHINK, v., n. Also whynk (Sc. 1825 Blackwood's Mag. (Jan.) 79). [ʍɪŋk]
I. v. Of dogs: to bark in a sharp, suppressed way, to yelp as when chasing game (Peb., Slk. 1825 Jam.; Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.; Slk. 1974). In 1824 quot. used of a badger.Slk. 1801 Hogg Sc. Pastorals 20:
Rinnin' whinkin' after hares.s.Sc. 1824 J. Telfer Border Ballads 68:
Aye he ran with whinkin scream, Till he drappit in a swoone.
II. n. A sharp, suppressed bark or yelp from a dog (Peb., Slk. 1825 Jam.; Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.; Slk. 1974); a child's sharp cry, a whimper (Ib.).Rxb. 1828 Trans. Hawick Arch. Soc. (1922) 37:
A little, wee creaturie, coming straight for him, whyles gie'in a whink o' a greet.
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"Whink v., n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 6 Feb 2026 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/whink>
