Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1971 (SND Vol. VIII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1892-1899, 1951
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SPINK, n.2, v.
I. n. 1. The chaffinch, Fringilla cœlebs (Slg. 1885 Trans. Slg. Nat. Hist. Soc. 62; Rxb. 1971). Also in Eng. dial.
2. The characteristic note of certain birds. Also in Eng. dial.Kcb. 1899 Crockett Kit Kennedy xxviii.:
The stone-chats cried Spink-spink-spink.
II. v. Of a bird: to utter the note 'spink' (Bnff. 1971). Also in Eng. dial.Sc. 1892 Blackwood's Mag. (July) 113:
He spinks, and chatters, and vibrates his little quill.Sc. 1951 Scots Mag. (Nov.) 113:
A chaffinch is "spinking" on a branch of the tallest birch.
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"Spink n.2, v.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 5 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/spink_n2_v>
