A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 1963 (DOST Vol. III).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1493-1700+
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Kinkin, n. Also: kynkyn, -kin(e, keinkin; kinking, kingking, kynkyng; kin-, kyn(g)kene; quinquin(e, quinquen(e. [MDu. kinnekijn, kintkijn, e.m.Du. kinneken, a small barrel equal to a quarter of a tun, etc. Cf. Kildekin, Kimpkin, Kintre(i)kine.]
A keg or small barrel used for fish, butter, soap, gunpowder, etc. Also comb. with robour.The kinkin appar. contained a quarter of a barrel and thus seems to have been the same as a firkin (see Ferdekin, Ferekin and Firikin):1577 Edinburgh Testaments V. 306 b.
Tua barrellis & ane quinquene of saip, price of the haill xl li. x s. 1580 Ib. VIII. 193.
Tua barrellis half ane barrell kinking saip price of the barrell xv łi., summa xli łi. v s.(a) 1493 Halyb. 10.
A kynkin of grenger [sic] 1497 Treasurer's Accounts I. 349.
Ane kinkin to put talloun in 1499–1500 Treasurer's Accounts I. 440.
Pro j kinkin le sture 1500 Halyb. 253.
A kynkyn of olyffis 1540 Acta Conc. & Sess. MS. XIV. 55.
Ane kynkyn of butter 1551 Treasurer's Accounts X. 40.
Ane kinkin of culvering pulder contenand viij lib. 1570 6th Rep. Hist. MSS. App. 646/2.
The rest of ane kynkine of seape in ane kist of fyir 1621 Brechin Testaments IV. 12.
Fyue keinkins of powder pryce xx lib. 1685 Scottish Notes and Queries 2 Ser. II. (1900) 92.
[John Stevinson, Banff:] Half kinkin soap, £3, 6, 8(b) 1541 Treasurer's Accounts VIII. 119.
Twa schort culveringis, ane kingking of gross pulder, ane kynking of salpeter 1562 6th Rep. Hist. MSS. App. 647/2.
Thre barrallis of pulder fow, and ane half, and ane kynkyng a1578 Pitsc. II. 254/24.
Captane Meluill handling pouder givand to his souldiouris furth of ane kinking 1623 Orkney & Shetl. Test. I. 90.
Ane kinking of stent butter four merkcomb. 1598 Black Bk. Taymouth 333.
Wyne sellar of Finlarg, … off kinking robouris for vinagir i(c) 1542 Treasurer's Accounts VIII. 153.
Tene kyngkennis of powder, weyand clene by the treis thre hundretht thre score poundis 1562 Ib. XI. 197.
For ane kinkene of pulder in Innernes 1 s. 1583 Wedderb. Compt Bk. 211.
The number of feggis in the schip ane barrele & half ane barrel ane kynken [etc.] 1606 Edinburgh Testaments XLII. 219 b.
Ane kinkene of butter price thairof iiij lb. c1650 Spalding II. 469.
He … plunderis about 20 barrellis or kinkenis of pulder 1715 Aberd. B. Rec. IV. 350.
The … quantityes of powder underwritten, viz … , ane half kinken conteining twentie fyue pund weight, … one kinken conteining fifty pund weight [etc.](d) 1582 Edinburgh Testaments XI. 162.
Thrie quinquenis of saip 1583 Ib. XII. 274 b.
Ane quinquene of saip price iiij li.?a1600 Aberd. B. Rec. MS. (Jam.).
A quinquin of oynyeonis?a1600 Aberd. B. Rec. MS. (Jam.).
Quinquene 1663–4 Aberd. Shore Wk. Acc. 496.
Ane boat with fruit from Murray. … Her top fruit and ane quinquine which wes her proportioun for the sysse boll
