Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

Hide Quotations Hide Etymology

Abbreviations Cite this entry

About this entry:
First published 1965 (SND Vol. VI). Includes material from the 2005 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

MINKER, n. A term of abuse for any disreputable ragamuffin or rowdy (Abd., Edb. 1963); a tinker, a vagrant (Abd. 1963). Also in reduced form mink (Abd., Per. 1963). Sc. 1992 Herald (17 Aug) 11:
"Wherever possible, I've gone to school and mostly I've been praised by my teachers. But fellow pupils call you 'minker' or 'gipsy' and say that we're smelly." Sc. 1998 The List (23 Jan-5 Feb) 19:
The empty steeples capture all philosophy and even minkers' bairns have angelwings. Sc. 2001 Sunday Herald (3 Jun) 6:
Another current fashion is dirty denim, which again is fine if you're gorgeous, spindly Kate Moss, Marlboro Light in one hand and hunky mechanic type in the other. Otherwise wandering around in this garb just makes you look like a manky minker in need of a good wash.