Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1960 (SND Vol. V).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
HINKUM, n. ¶1. “Anything which is tied up into balls, as thread” (Abd. 1902 E.D.D.).
2. A young and mischievous boy or girl.Ib.:
Come oot o' that ye hinkum; ye're makin' a' soss o' yer claes. The little hinkum put an en' to the readin' by blawing oot the can'le.
Hence (1) hinkumbooby, a children's singing game (see quot. and A. B. Gomme Trad. Games (1894) I. 352–61); (2) hinkumsnivie, hincum-, -sneev(l)ie, a silly, stupid person (Abd. 1825 Jam., -snivie), an underhand kind of person, a sneak, tell-tale (Bnff.2 1928, -sneevlie; Abd. 1951); also used attrib. = cowardly, lazy.(1) Sc. 1847 R. Chambers Pop. Rhymes 273:
The party form a circle, taking hold of each other's hands. One sings, and the rest join . . . while doing so, they move a little side-ways, and back again, beating the time . . . with their feet. As soon as the line is concluded, each claps his hand and wheels grotesquely round, singing . . . Hinkum-booby, round about. Then they sing, with the appropriate gesture — that is, throwing their right hand into the circle and the left out; Right hands in, and left hands out, still beating the time.(2) Abd. 1853 W. Cadenhead Flights 179, 259:
You're nae a hincumsneevie slattern, Crouch'd in a corner . . . To shame the hincum-sneevie louns wha aye holed on at hame.
