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 1960 (SND Vol. V).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

JINKERS, n.pl. A children's ball and wall game (see quots.) (Per. 1959).Per. 1900 E.D.D. s.v. Day:
The boy owning this name must then catch the ball before it strikes the ground, and whenever he does so the boys stop and call out “Jinkers”, unless the boy in the centre calls out “No Jinkers”, when the rest all have to stand still in their places.Lnk. 1928 Spectator (24 Nov.):
The commencing player throws a ball against a high wall, calling out the name of another player who must catch the ball before it reaches the ground. If he fails, the other players scatter until he retrieves the ball, when they must immediately stand still. He now selects one of the others and throws the ball at him. This latter attempts to dodge or “jink” it. Hence the name “jinkers”.