Obs. Also (4 pl. treinekys), 4–6 trynk, treinke, 5 trenke, (trimke, trymke), 5–6 trynke, (6 trungke), 7 trinck(e, trinke. [Origin obscure. Known in AF. (or English in AF. context) from 14th c., and in use till 17th c.; but almost confined to legal enactments. It has been compared as to form with It. trinca a cable, Sp. trinca rope, cord, trincas lashings (Diez), but evidence of connection with these is wanting.]
A kind of fixed fishing-net formerly used in the Thames and other rivers, concerning which ordinances were made from 14th c. onward.
1311. Liber Horn City of London, lf. 221 b (MS.). Item ylia un autre manere de Reys qe um apele Treinekys la largesce de 1 pouz et di.
1344. Letter Bk. F. London Recds., lf. 80 b. Compertum est … quod predicta retia vocata Treinkes non sunt largitatis in Mallio … nisi dimidii pollicis ad plus. Ideo consideratum est quod comburantur.
1376. Rolls of Parlt., II. 331/2. Qe touz les Trynks par entre Loundres & la miere soient oustez.
1423. Act 2 Hen. VI., c. 12 § 1. Salvez a chescun son droit & title en les Weres Kydelx & Trymkes avantditz. Ibid., c. 19 § 1. Item ordeignez est & establiz qe la stacion des Reis & engines appellez Trynkes et de toutz autres maneres reis qe sont … fichez & attachez … soit toutoutrement defenduz…. Purveux toutfoitz qe bien lise as possessours des ditz Trynkes … peschier ovec eux … les entraihantz et conveiantz par main come autres peschours [cf. TRINKER, quot. c. 1485].
1485. Letter-Bk L. Lond., lf. 208 b. That the Nettes called Trenkes be of the largenes of ii Inches in the Masshe in the fore part and an Inche & half large … in … the later part.
1556. Chron. Gr. Friars (Camden), 10. This yere [1405] alle the kydelles and trungkes thorowghout the Tenise from the towne of Stanes … unto the watter of Medevey … by the mayer & commonalte of London were dystrowyd and brent.
1630. Lex Londinensis (1680), 211. That no Trinckerman or other Fisherman shall buy any Trincke … until he be allowed and thought fit by the Lord Major of London … and seventeen Trinks allowed, and no more.
[1688. R. Holme, Armoury, III. xxii. (Roxb.), 278/1. A Trink, was of old a Kind of Nett to fish withall.]
b. Short for trink-boat: see d.
1557. Admir. Crt. Lib., 27 (2), No. 131. Proprietarii duarum navicularum vocatarum ij Trynkes.
c. A fisherman who uses a trink; a trinkerman.
1630. Lex Londinensis (1680), 210. That no Trincke shall stand in any Byrth more than is allowed him to stand. Ibid., 212. That each Trincke shall every dark and foggy night hang forth out of his said Trinck-boat one Lanthorn. Ibid. That every Trincke shall at all times and seasons take up … his Anchor at the time of his leaving off from fishing.
d. attrib. and Comb.: trink-boat, a fishing-boat with a trink; trink-cable, a cable used with a trink; trink-man = TRINKERMAN; trink-net = trink.
1630. *Trinck-boat [see c above].
1630. Lex Londinensis (1680), 212. That every *Trincke Cable be no more then twenty fathom long at the most.
1689. in Strype, Stow’s Surv. (1751), II. V. xxvii. 480/2. All *Trinke-Men shall yearly, at the Guildhall-Chappel, present themselves before the Lord-Mayor or Water-Bailiff.
1584. Order Conserv. Thames, in Strype, Stow’s Surv. (1754), I. I. ix. 42/2. No Fishermen, Garthmen … or Tynkermen, shall … make any … Stalker Nets, *Trynck Nets, Purse Nets, Casting Nets [etc.] except they be 2 Inches in the Mash.
