Tinker
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A tinker was originally an itinerant tinsmith, who mended household utensils. The term "tinker" became used in British society to refer to marginalized persons.[citation needed] In this later sense, "tinker" may mean:
- Irish Travellers, nomadic or itinerant people of Irish origin
- Scottish Travellers, nomadic or itinerant people of Scottish origin
- Gypsy.
Tinker as a surname is a very old Anglo-Saxon name, with variations of Le Tinklere and Tinkler, appearing when surnames were adopted, many from occupations. Having no Irish or Romany connections, it is found mainly in Yorkshire and Norfolk. A Tinker was listed among the Pilgrims who sailed on the Mayflower in 1620 to the New World, but he died within a few months.
The Tinker name did not occur in Ireland until the late 17th century, after the English Civil War, when former members of Oliver Cromwell's New Model Army settled there after service. The Gypsy connotation arose later from tinkers who travelled the British Isles to ply their trade. Tinkers were originally not Romanies nor Gypsies, although some Romany adopted the tinker's trade.
Tinker descendants are recorded as living in the parish of Letheringsett near Holt in North Norfolk. After moving to Kensington in London, others now live mainly in the South of the UK.[citation needed]
The term "little tinker" is now widely used in the UK as a term of endearment for a cheeky young child. Some modern day nomads with an Irish, Scottish, or English influence call themselves "techno-tinkers" or "technogypsies" and are found to possess a revival of sorts of the romantic view of the tinker's lifestyle.[1]
Tinker's dam
The tinker's dam is a wad of wet paper or other pliable material used to dam up a hole in a metal item being repaired by the tinker using molten solder. Thus the tinker's dam is worthless after the repair is completed. [2][3]
Tinker's damn
A tinker's damn or tinker's cuss, is a British expression of contempt for something considered insignificant. In common usage, the expression is used this way: "I don't give a tinker's damn what the Vicar thinks", or sometimes shortened to, "I don't give a tinker's about the Vicar." In this context, the speaker is expressing contempt for the local clergyman and his opinion. A tinker's curse was considered of little significance because tinkers were reputed to swear habitually.[4]
Tinkering
To tinker with something is to build or rebuild via a process also known as bricolage.
Tinkerbell
A Beautiful fairy whose voice sounds like a bell to most nonfairys.
Tink
Exceptional example of onomatopoeia (the "tink" sound made when using a hammer to repair many small metal things)
Tinker
One who explores problems and develops and implements solutions, ordinarily for pay but frequently just for the joy of it. Unconventional Thinker Problem Solver One who makes things work (especially again). One who fixes things that those on hand can not or will not fix. An individual with above average mechanical aptitude and problem solving abilities. One who travels about fixing things frequently teaching others how to solve problems.
Tinker
Contraction of Thinker
See also
See also
References
| This article needs additional citations for verification. (September 2010) |
- ^ "Techno-Gypsies, Techno-Nomads, and Techno-Tinkers" 2005 by Leaf McGowan/Thomas Baurley. Seattle, Washington. Tree Leaves Publishing.
- ^ "A Tinker's dam". usingenglish.com.
- ^ John Bonner, George William Curtis (1905). "Tinkers". Harper's weekly. Harper's weekly. p. 1424. Retrieved 2 April 2012.
- ^ "A tinker's damn". phrases.org.uk.