Dictionary

kiddlywink en · NOUN

Pronunciation

• (US) audio

Etymology

Possibly related to tiddlywink or kiddywink.

Meanings

1. (Cornwall, historical) A small pub only licensed to sell beer or cider.
   • "And we have a notion how much he had to drink in the kiddlywink." 1974, Marjorie Watson, Heir to Polventon, →ISBN:
   • 1980, John Hugh Norton Mason, West country walks and legends, Academy Chicago Pub Bessie's Cove was said to be named after a Bessie Burrows who kept a small 'kiddlywink' inn on the cliff-top.
   • There's a kiddlywink there where my crew and l have spent many a happy hour.” 2011, Patricia Gaffney, Lily, Open Road Media, →ISBN:
2. (historical) A small village shop.
3. (humorous) A child.
   • 'My sweet kiddlywinks, we are going on a car trip into the mountains and there we 'll stay in Danny's house in the rainforest.' 2007, Ally Blake, Millionaire to the Rescue, Harlequin, →ISBN, page 35:
   • 'Well, kiddlywinks' –she touched her face round the edges– 'we've somebody coming tos ee us. Tomorrow, first thing.' 2014, Andrea Ashworth, Once in a House on Fire: Picador Classic, Pan Macmillan, →ISBN:
   • Frankie wasn't sure he liked being called a kiddlywink but, as the air fizzed around him, he felt his worries dissolve like a spoonful of sherbet 2013, Anna Kemp, The Great Brain Robbery, Simon and Schuster, →ISBN:

Forms

Synonyms

kiddly