subs. (colloquial).—1. An unskilful workman; a botcher. Also (2) a makeshift; a botch; a bungle. As verb = to make barely or rudely serviceable: e.g., TO TINKER UP A PATIENT = to keep Death at arm’s length; TO TINKER A FENCE = to stop a gap here and there; TO TINKER A BILL = to make it temporarily workable.
1857. T. HUGHES, Tom Brown’s School-days, i. 1. They must speak their mind about it … and spend their time and money in having a TINKER at it.
1885. Standard, 11 Nov. I should oppose any mere TINKERING of its constitution which would retain the hereditary principles as its chief feature.
1890. DILKE, Problems of Greater Britain, vi. 6. The Victorian Act has been already TINKERED several times, and is not likely to last long in its present form.
TO SWILL LIKE A TINKER, verb. phr. (old).—To tipple without stint.
1694. MOTTEUX, Rabelais, V. v. Eat and drink bravely … SWILL LIKE TINKERS.
See LAZY, quot. 1811.
