Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
Hide Quotations Hide Etymology
About this entry:
First published 1960 (SND Vol. V).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1706-1728, 1786-1813
[1,1,1,0,0,0,0,0,1,1,1,1,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0]
JINKER, n. Also ginker. One who jinks; one devoted to amusement, a libertine; a giddy or wanton girl (Ayr. 1786 Burns To Maj. Logan x.); a prostitute. Applied fig. to a high-spirited nimble animal. [′dʒɪŋkər]Fif. 1706 J. Watson Choice Coll. i. 30:
A Bon-companion and a Drinker, A delicate and dainty Ginker.Sc. 1728 Ramsay Poems (S.T.S.) II. 52:
Where Mates, some greedy, some deep Drinkers, Contend with thriftless Mates or Jinkers?Ayr. 1786 Burns Auld Mare vii.:
That day, ye was a jinker noble, For heels an' win'!Rnf. 1813 E. Picken Poems I. 97:
Frae dark close mou's the jinkers craw Ha! — will ye gie's a gill, sir?
You may wish to vary the format shown below depending on the citation style used.
"Jinker n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 14 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/jinker>
