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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1968 (SND Vol. VII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
¶PINKERTON, n. A feeble-minded person, a person of low intellect, a simpleton (Gall. 1824 MacTaggart Gallov. Encycl. 382). Also pinkie, id. (Ib.).
[Phs. a deriv. of Pink, n.2, sc. one who has a small brain or only a glimmer of intelligence, formed after simpleton and the prop. name Pinkerton.]You may wish to vary the format shown below depending on the citation style used.
"Pinkerton n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 2 Dec 2024 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/pinkerton>
