tinker

See also Tinker

English

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA: /tɪŋkə(ɹ)/, SAMPA: /tINk@(r)/
• Rhymes: -ɪŋkə(r)

Etymology

From Middle English tinkere

Noun

tinker (plural tinkers)

1. an itinerant tinsmith and mender of household utensils made of tin
2. (dated, chiefly UK and Ireland, offensive) A member of the travelling community. A gypsy.
3. (usually with "little") A mischievous person, especially a playful, impish youngster.
4. Someone who repairs, or attempts repair on anything mechanical (tinkers) or invents.
5. The act of repair or invention.

Synonyms

• (mischievous person): rapscallion, rascal, rogue, scamp, scoundrel
• (member of the travelling community): traveller

Translations

itinerant tinsmith

Finnish: kattilanpaikkaaja (fi), tinuri (fi) Irish: tincéir (ga) m.

Luxembourgish: Dëppegéisser (lb) m. Norwegian: kjeleflikker (no) m.

member of the travelling community

Irish: tincéir (ga) m.

mischievous person

Finnish: ryökäle (fi)

Verb

tinker (third-person singular simple present tinkers, present participle tinkering, simple past and past participle tinkered)

1. to fiddle with something in an attempt to fix, mend or improve it, especially in an experimental or unskilled manner
2. to work as a tinker

Translations

to fiddle with something in an attempt to fix, mend or improve it

Finnish: värkkäillä (fi), pusata (fi), rassata (fi), värkätä (fi) French: bricoler (fr)

German: tüfteln (de) Swedish: mecka (sv)

to work as a tinker

Finnish: tinata (fi)

See also

• tinker, tailor
• tinker's damn

Anagrams

• reknit