pink

Meanings

Noun

• The common minnow, Phoxinus phoxinus.
• A young Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar, before it becomes a smolt; a parr.
• A narrow boat.
• A small hole made by puncturing something, as with a rapier, dagger, or pinking iron.
• Any of various flowers in the genus Dianthus, sometimes called carnations.
• A perfect example; excellence, perfection; the embodiment of some quality.
• The colour of this flower, between red and white; pale red.
• Hunting pink; scarlet, as worn by hunters.
• One of the colour balls used in snooker, coloured pink, with a value of 6 points.
• An unlettered and uncultured, but relatively prosperous, member of the middle classes; compare Babbitt, bourgeoisie.
• Alternative of pinko
• The vagina or vulva.
• Any of various lake#Etymology 4 pigments or dyes in yellow, yellowish green, or brown shades made with plant coloring and a metallic oxide base.

Verb

• To decorate a piece of clothing or fabric by adding holes or by scalloping the fringe.
• To prick with a sword.
• To wound by irony, criticism, or ridicule.
• To become pink in color, to redden.
• To turn (something) pink.
• To turn (a topaz or other gemstone) pink by the application of heat.
• Of a motor car, to emit a high "pinking" noise, usually as a result of ill-set ignition timing for the fuel used (in a spark ignition engine).
• Of a musical instrument, to sound a very high-pitched, short note.
• To wink; to blink.

Adjective

• Having a colour between red and white; pale red.
• Of a fox-hunter's jacket: scarlet.
• Having conjunctivitis.
• By comparison to red (communist), describing someone who sympathizes with the ideals of communism without actually being a Russian-style communist: a pinko.
• Relating to women or girls.
• Relating to homosexuals as a group within society.
• Half-shut; winking.

Origin

• Unknown. Some lexicographers suggest comparison to regional German Pinke, but this is not widely accepted.
• Borrowed from Middle Dutch pincke.
• Probably from Dutch pingelen ("to do fine needlework") or Low German; compare Low German pinken ("hit, peck") and Pinke.
• Origin Unknown; perhaps from Dutch pincken ("blink") or the English verb pink from the same source (Etymology 6, below). Perhaps from the notion of the petals being pinked (Etymology 3, above).
• Borrowed from Dutch pinken.
• Unknown. Attested from the late 15th century.