TINKER

Tinker

A tinker was originally an itinerant tinsmith, who mended household utensils. The word is attested from the 13th century and may be of imitative origin. Some travelling people and Gypsies adopted this lifestyle and the name was particularly associated with indigenous Irish and Scottish Travellers. However, this usage is disputed and considered offensive by some. Tinkering is therefore the process of adapting, meddling or adjusting something in the course of making repairs or improvements, a process also known as bricolage.

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tinker

Noun

  1. an itinerant tinsmith and mender of household utensils made of tin
  2. A member of the travelling community. A gypsy.
  3. 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.
  6. A small mortar on the end of a staff.
  7. Any of various fish: the chub mackerel, the silverside, the skate, or a young mackerel about two years old.
  8. A bird, the razor-billed auk.

Verb

  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.


The above text is a snippet from Wiktionary: tinker
and as such is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

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