A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 2001 (DOST Vol. IX).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1507-1508, 1653
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Spink, Spynk, n. [ME and e.m.E. spynke (c1425), spink (1591), spinke (1600).] a. A chaffinch. See also Goldspink n. b. As a term of abuse. —a. 1653 Urquhart Rabelais ii xiv.
The little bird called a spink or chaffinch —b. a1508 Kennedy Flyt. 552.
Tale tellare, rebellare, induellar wyth the devillis, Spynk, sink wyth stynk ad Tertara termagorum
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"Spink n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 14 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/spink>
