subs. (old).—1. A beauty: hence (2) a pattern or model: as a woman of fashion, a well-groomed man, the pick of the litter, a champion at sport, &c.—GROSE (1785).
1595. SHAKESPEARE, Romeo and Juliet, ii. 4, 4. I am the very PINK of courtesy.
1602. BRETON, Wonders Worth the Hearing, 7. He had a pretty PINCKE to his own wedded wife.
1621. FLETCHER, The Pilgrim, i. 2. This is the prettiest pilgrim; the PINK of pilgrims.
1693. CONGREVE, The Old Batchelor, ii. 1. I am happy to have obliged the Mirrour of Knighthood and PINK of Courtesie in the age.
1708–10. SWIFT, Polite Conversation, i. Miss. Oh! Mr. Neverout; every body knows that you are the PINK of Courtesy.
1821. P. EGAN, Life in London, II. i. The lady and her scullion—the PINK of the ton and his “rain-bow”—… they are “all there.”
1827. BULWER-LYTTON, Pelham, xl. Now, reely, Mr. Ritson, you, who are the PINK of feeshion, ought to know better than I can.
3. (American cadet).—A bad report, e.g., ‘There are several PINKS against you.’ Also as verb.
4. (hunting).—A hunting coat: commonly SCARLET (q.v.). Also a hunting man (as wearing PINK).
1857. T. HUGHES, Tom Brown’s School-days, I. iv. The PINKS stand about the inn door lighting cigars and waiting to see us start.
1860. Macmillan’s Magazine, 16. With peacoats over their PINKS.
Verb. (old).—1. To put home a rapier’s point. Also, as subs.—a wound so made.—B. E. (c. 1696); GROSE (1785).
1598. JONSON, Every Man in his Humour, iv. 1. I will PINK your flesh full of holes with my rapier for this.
1607. MIDDLETON, Your Five Gallants, iii. 5. A freebooter’s PINK, sir, three or four inches deep.
1778. BURNEY, Evelina, lxxxiii. Lovel … you must certainly PINK him: you must not put up with such an affront.
1823. BADCOCK (‘Jon Bee’), Dictionary of the Turf, etc., s.v. NOB. ‘Josh paid his respects … to the Yokel’s nob.’ ‘His nob was PINKED all over,’ i.e., marked in sundry places.
2. (American thieves’).—To convict: as a result of perjury or cross-examination to one’s prejudice.
3. (tailors’).—To make carefully, even exquisitely.
4. (pugilists’).—To get home easily and often.
1819. T. MOORE, Tom Crib’s Memorial to Congress, ‘The Milling Match.’ And muns and noddle PINK’D in every part.
1823. BADCOCK (‘Jon Bee’), Dictionary of the Turf, etc., s.v. PINK [of Jim Belcher’s method]. I felt myself suddenly PINKED all over … no blow of finishing importance, to be sure, but all conducing toward victory.
DUTCH PINK, subs. phr. (pugilists’).—Blood: cf. CLARET.
1853. REV. E. BRADLEY (‘Cuthbert Bede’), The Adventures of Mr. Verdant Green, an Oxford Freshman, II. 31. That’ll take the bark from your nozzle, and distill the DUTCH PINK for you, won’t it?
