drunken tinker n.
a ne’er-do-well who, accompanied by his woman, wanders the country, mixing villainy and legitimate work, pursuing neither, it appears, with particular enthusiasm.
Caveat for Common Cursetours in Viles & Furnivall (1907) 59: These dronken Tynckers, called also Prygges, be beastly people, and these yong knaues be the wurst. | ||
Honest Whore Pt 2 (1630) IV i: [He] swore like a dozen of drunken Tinkers; at last growing foule in words, he and foure of his men drew vpon me, sir. | ||
, , | Classical Dict. of the Vulgar Tongue. | |
Lex. Balatronicum. | ||
Life and Adventures. | ||
Grose’s Classical Dict. of the Vulgar Tongue. | ||
Cork Examiner 15 Oct. 4/7: This fair [waas wel supplied with the stock [...] tinkers and their wives and asses in great abundance —A drunkard tinker offered to sell his wife for ten shilings, but no bidder. | ||
Alnwick Mercury 1 July 10/3: The artist [...] had some trouble in discovering a suitable head for the drunken tinker. |