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: 1725-1955
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YOUNKER, n. Also younkeir (Edb. 1790 Caled. Mercury (14 June)), yonkier (Abd. p.1768 A. Ross Fortunate Shep. MS. 56), yonker, yunker; and in sense 2. in reduced form younk. [′jʌŋkər]
1. A youngster, a young lad or girl, a youth (n.Sc., em.Sc., Ayr. 1974). Now dial. in Eng.Sc. 1725 Ramsay T.-T. Misc. (1876) I. 104:
If ye with a younker wald, He'll waste away your snishing.Sc. c.1750 D. Herd Sc. Songs (1776) I. 48:
In herst at the shearing nae younkers are jeering.Rs. 1783 W. MacGill Old Ross-shire (1909) 69:
I arrived here this morning with my two younkers.Ayr. 1785 Burns Cotter's Sat. Night vi.:
Their master's and their mistress's command, The younkers a' are warned to obey.Slk. 1819 Hogg Tales (1874) 141:
The lasses and the young men. . . . A large group of these younkers.Lnk. 1865 J. Hamilton Poems 293:
A younker nae mair, but a blythe buirdly carle.Per. 1895 R. Ford Tayside Songs 84:
The younkers play'd athort the floor.Abd. 1955 W. P. Milne Eppie Elrick xxx.:
Mains was on the point of departing for home accompanied by Kirstan, Eppie Elrick and the 'yunkers'.
2. A young bird, a nestling (Cai., Per. (younk), Dmb., Lnk. 1974).s.Sc. 1917 Border Mag. (June) 123:
A wee bit wheeplin' younk that had fa'en oot o' the nest an' couldna flee.
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"Younker n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 1 Apr 2026 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/younker>
