tinker

Meaning

1. An itinerant tinsmith and mender of household utensils made of metal.
2. A member of the Irish Traveller community or of other itinerant groups; a gypsy.
3. A mischievous person, especially a playful, impish youngster.
4. Someone who repairs, or attempts repair, on anything mechanical, or who invents such devices; one who tinkers; a tinkerer.
5. An act of repair or invention.
6. A hand mortar.
7. Any of various fish: chub mackerel, silverside, skate, or young mackerel about two years old.
8. A razor-billed auk, a bird of species (Alca torda).
9. To work as a tinker.
10. To fiddle with something in an attempt to fix, mend or improve it, especially in an experimental or unskilled manner.
11. A northern English surname originating as an occupation for someone who mends pots and pans.

Etymology / origin

From Middle English tynkere, perhaps from Old English *tincere, from tin (“tin”) + *cere, as in bēocere (“beekeeper”).

Related words

Descendant words

• tincéir(Irish) (bor)

Sources

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