? Obs. Forms: 4–6 tynke, 6 tyncke, 6–7 tinck, tinke, 7 tincke, 7 tink. [Echoic; cf. EFris. tinken.]
1. intr. To emit a metallic sound with very short resonance, e.g., as is done by a cracked bell, but sometimes used as = TINKLE; to chink, clink. In quot. 1655 of rhyme (cf. jingle).
Prov. As the fool thinketh, the bell tinketh: i.e., to the fool the bell seems to say what he wants it to say; referring to a superstitious notion that the tinkling of a bell sometimes gives an oracular monition or answer. Cf. Southey, Doctor, xxxii. 1, the legend of Dick Whittington, etc.
1382. Wyclif, 1 Cor. xiii. 1. I am maad as bras sownnynge, or a symbal tynkynge.
c. 1540. J. Heywood, Four P. P., B ij. Syr after dryngking, while the shot is tinkynge, Som heades be swiming, but mine wilbe sinking.
1627. J. Carter, Plain Expos., 34. Other folkes must thinke as his bels tinke.
1655. Fuller, Ch. Hist., II. 167. If the verses do but chime and tinck in the close, it is enough to the purpose.
b. trans. To utter or express by emitting such a sound (with allusion to the proverb: see 1).
1624. Bp. Mountagu, Gagg, 283. Even as the Bell tinketh whatsoever the foole thinketh.
1852. Lloyd’s Weekly Newspaper, 27 June, 8/1. The meaning of this story is,—
| As the fool thinks, so the bell tinks. |
2. intr. Of a person: To make such a sound by striking upon metal or other resonant substance. b. Tink out (trans.): to express or give out in this way.
1533. More, Debell. Salem, Wks. 955/1. That the tinkar would haue tinked out of his pannes bottome a reason that woulde at the leaste wise ring a little better then this.
1609. Armin, Maids of More-Cl., C iij b. Toures tincks vpon his pan drinking.
1658. Rowland, Moufet’s Theat. Ins., 894. According as he that tinks on the brazen kettle, pleaseth, so they slack or quicken their flying.
3. trans. To cause (something) to emit an abrupt metallic sound; sometimes = to tinkle (a bell, etc.).
1495. [see TING v.1].
1532. Henryson’s Test. Cres., 144 (ed. Thynne). Cupyde the kynge tynkyng [ed. Charteris (1593), ringand] a syluer bel.
c. 1537. Thersytes, in Four O. Pl. (1848), 80. Mercolfe monyles … Tyncke wyll the tables thoughe he there not tary.
Hence Tinking vbl. sb. and ppl. a.
1382. [see sense 1].
1530. Palsgr., 281/2. Tynkynge, the sowndyng of metalls, whan they be strycken togyder, tintyn.
1610. Boys, Expos. Dom. Epist. & Gosp., Wks. (1622), 205. Wee were but as a sounding brasse, or as a tincking cymball.
