dinky
[ ding-kee ]
/ ˈdɪŋ ki /
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adjective, dink·i·er, dink·i·est.
Informal. small, unimportant, unimpressive, or shabby: We stayed in a dinky old hotel.
British Informal. fashionable; well dressed; smart.
noun, plural dink·ies.
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Question 1 of 7
Let’s start with some etymology: What are the origins of the typographical word “bracket”?
First appeared around 1750, and is related to the French word “braguette” for the name of codpiece armor.
First appeared in 1610, based on the French word “baguette” for the long loaf of bread.
First appeared in 1555, and is related to the French word “raquette” for a netted bat.
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Origin of dinky
1780–90; compare Scots dink neatly dressed, trim (of obscure origin); sense shift perhaps: trim > dainty > small > insignificant; see -y1
Words nearby dinky
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021
Example sentences from the Web for dinky
British Dictionary definitions for dinky
dinky
/ (ˈdɪŋkɪ) /
adjective dinkier or dinkiest informal
British small and neat; dainty
US inconsequential; insignificant
Word Origin for dinky
C18 (in the sense: dainty): from dink
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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