Origin uncertain; perhaps from Dutch pinken (“to blink”) or the English verb pink from the same source. Perhaps from the notion of the petals being pinked. An earlier word for similar flesh-like colors, mostly displaced by pink, was incarnation ([1300s]; see Etymonline) and carnation.
Meanings
Having a colour between red and white; pale red.
Of a fox-hunter's jacket: scarlet.
Having conjunctivitis.
By comparison to red (communist), supportive of socialist ideas but not actually socialist or communist.
The word "socialist" has so many connotations that it can cover almost anything from pink liberalism to red-red communism. 1976, Bhalchandra Pundlik Adarkar, The Future of the Constitution: A Critical Analysis:
(informal) Relating to women or girls.
pink job
pink-collar
(informal) Relating to homosexuals as a group within society.
The lesbian and gay movement must decide whether the Parade is for celebrating how far we've come as we further our struggle for liberation, or whether it is going to be just another profit-making industry, supporting lesbian and gay careerism and becoming part of the Establishment (albeit a pink one!) 1991 August 24, Lori Nairne, “Whose Parade Is It, Anyway?”, in Gay Community News, volume 19, number 6, page 5:
ak penke (colored/coloured between red and white) · gd bàn-dhearg (colored/coloured between red and white) · nrf rose (colored/coloured between red and white) · acw زهري (colored/coloured between red and white) · lou roz (colored/coloured between red and white) · af angelierroos (colored/coloured between red and white) · sh ružičasto (colored/coloured between red and white) · sh rozi (colored/coloured between red and white) · hy վարդագույն (colored/coloured between red and white) · mt roża (colored/coloured between red and white) · pt rosa (colored/coloured between red and white) · sw waridi (colored/coloured between red and white) · he ורוד (colored/coloured between red and white) · es rosmarino (colored/coloured between red and white) · ko 분홍빛 (colored/coloured between red and white) · jv jambon (colored/coloured between red and white) · pdt fleeschfoawich (colored/coloured between red and white) · io rozea (colored/coloured between red and white) · ml പിങ്ക് (colored/coloured between red and white) · ga bándearg (colored/coloured between red and white) · km ស៊ីជំពូ (colored/coloured between red and white) · kw gwynnrudh (colored/coloured between red and white) · hop tsorongpu (colored/coloured between red and white) · cmn 粉色 (colored/coloured between red and white) · nn rosa (colored/coloured between red and white) · ru ро́зовый (colored/coloured between red and white) · ro roz (colored/coloured between red and white) · is bleikur (colored/coloured between red and white) · th ชมพู (colored/coloured between red and white) · cs růžový (colored/coloured between red and white) · pt róseo (colored/coloured between red and white) · ko 핑크 (colored/coloured between red and white) · sa कमल (colored/coloured between red and white) · sv ljusröd (colored/coloured between red and white) · sh розе (colored/coloured between red and white) · vo redülik (colored/coloured between red and white) · af pienk (colored/coloured between red and white) · es rosado (colored/coloured between red and white) · nb lyserød (colored/coloured between red and white) · ar وَرْدِيّ (colored/coloured between red and white) · ja ピンク (colored/coloured between red and white) · lou ròz (colored/coloured between red and white) · gl rosado (colored/coloured between red and white) · ro trandafiriu (colored/coloured between red and white) · sv rosa (colored/coloured between red and white) · fr rose (colored/coloured between red and white) · pt cor-de-rosa (colored/coloured between red and white) · sh ružičast (colored/coloured between red and white) · arz بمبي (colored/coloured between red and white) · pt rosado (colored/coloured between red and white) · grc ῥόδινος (colored/coloured between red and white) · hu rózsaszínű (colored/coloured between red and white) · xal оошк (colored/coloured between red and white) · nv dinilchííʼ (colored/coloured between red and white) · fi pinkki (colored/coloured between red and white) · am ሮዝ (colored/coloured between red and white) · ka ვარდისფერი (colored/coloured between red and white) · acw پنك (colored/coloured between red and white) · he וָרֹד (colored/coloured between red and white) · sv skär (colored/coloured between red and white) · am ሐምራዊ (colored/coloured between red and white) · bua ягаан (colored/coloured between red and white) · af ligroos (colored/coloured between red and white) · gd pinc (colored/coloured between red and white) · nb lysrød (colored/coloured between red and white) · de rosa (colored/coloured between red and white) · hu rózsaszín (colored/coloured between red and white) · vi màu hồng (colored/coloured between red and white) · ja 桃色 (colored/coloured between red and white) · yi ראָז (colored/coloured between red and white) · lt rožinis (colored/coloured between red and white) · it rosa (colored/coloured between red and white) · cmn 粉紅色 /粉红色 (colored/coloured between red and white) · fa صورتی (colored/coloured between red and white) · bg ро́зов (colored/coloured between red and white) · su kayas (colored/coloured between red and white) · kw rudhwynn (colored/coloured between red and white) · sk ružový (colored/coloured between red and white) · kw kigliw (colored/coloured between red and white) · nan-hbl 水紅 /水红 (colored/coloured between red and white) · mdh kasumba (colored/coloured between red and white) · id merah muda (colored/coloured between red and white) · es cariaco (colored/coloured between red and white) · sh ружичаст (colored/coloured between red and white) · be ружо́вы (colored/coloured between red and white) · nl rooskleurig (colored/coloured between red and white) · yo àwọ̀ pupa fẹ́rẹ́ (colored/coloured between red and white) · fi vaaleanpunainen (colored/coloured between red and white) · yue 粉色 (colored/coloured between red and white) · ms merah jambu (colored/coloured between red and white) · id pink muda (colored/coloured between red and white) · hi गुलाबी (colored/coloured between red and white) · ckb پەمەیی (colored/coloured between red and white) · io roza (colored/coloured between red and white) · pl różowy (colored/coloured between red and white) · si රෝස (colored/coloured between red and white) · shu أبرص (colored/coloured between red and white) · tr pembe (colored/coloured between red and white) · es rosáceo (colored/coloured between red and white) · uk роже́вий (colored/coloured between red and white) · lv sārts (colored/coloured between red and white) · eo rozkolora (colored/coloured between red and white) · yue 粉紅色 /粉红色 (colored/coloured between red and white) · la roseus (colored/coloured between red and white) · nb rosa (colored/coloured between red and white) · da lyserød (colored/coloured between red and white) · mk розова (colored/coloured between red and white) · kl aappalujappoq (colored/coloured between red and white) · mfe roz (colored/coloured between red and white) · acw بمبه (colored/coloured between red and white) · ur گلابی (colored/coloured between red and white) · ms merah muda (colored/coloured between red and white) · es sonrosado (colored/coloured between red and white) · sh roza (colored/coloured between red and white) · eo rozokolora (colored/coloured between red and white) · ain ルフレ (colored/coloured between red and white) · ca rosa (colored/coloured between red and white) · fo ljósareyður (colored/coloured between red and white) · el ροζ (colored/coloured between red and white) · de pink (colored/coloured between red and white) · nl roze (colored/coloured between red and white) · ak pinke (colored/coloured between red and white) · unm màxkikte (colored/coloured between red and white) · ar زَهْرِيّ (colored/coloured between red and white) · cy pinc (colored/coloured between red and white) · es róseo (colored/coloured between red and white) · bn গোলাপী (colored/coloured between red and white) · udm лемлет (colored/coloured between red and white) · sh roze (colored/coloured between red and white) · tl kulay-rosas (colored/coloured between red and white) · mi mākurakura (colored/coloured between red and white)
Origin uncertain; perhaps from Dutch pinken (“to blink”) or the English verb pink from the same source. Perhaps from the notion of the petals being pinked. An earlier word for similar flesh-like colors, mostly displaced by pink, was incarnation ([1300s]; see Etymonline) and carnation.
Meanings
(countable, uncountable) A color reminiscent of pinks, the flowers.
Both halves feature lyrics that are so teen-girly they sound like they were written in pink ink in a padlocked diary with hearts and frowny faces for punctuation. 2016 March 24, Darryl Sterdan, “ZAYN’s ‘Mind of Mine’ and Gwen Stefani’s ‘This is What the Truth Feels Like’ top this week’s new music”, in The Toronto Star, archived from the original on 17 Jun 2018:
My new dress is a wonderful shade of pink.
Jasper couldn't have known they'd been overheard upstairs, but his little smirk coming and going invited you to guess he'd been up to something. He had the pink of sex about him still. 2004, Alan Hollinghurst, The Line of Beauty […], 1st American edition, New York, N.Y.: Bloomsbury Publishing, →ISBN, page 228:
(countable, uncountable) A color reminiscent of pinks, the flowers. ▸ Magenta, the colour evoked by red and blue light when combined.
(countable, uncountable) A color reminiscent of pinks, the flowers. ▸ Pale red.
(countable, uncountable) Any of various flowers of that colour in the genus Dianthus, sometimes called carnations.
This garden in particular has a beautiful bed of pinks.
(countable, dated, uncountable) A perfect example; excellence, perfection; the embodiment of some quality.
Your hat, madam, is the very pink of fashion.
Nay, I am the very pink of courtesy. c. 1591–1595 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Romeo and Ivliet”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act II, scene iv]:
(countable, uncountable) Hunting pink; scarlet, as worn by hunters.
I had taken it for granted that there would be people ‘in pink’, but these enormous confident strangers overwhelmed me with the visible authenticity of their brick-red coats. 1928, Siegfried Sassoon, Memoirs of a Fox-Hunting Man, Penguin, published 2013, page 23:
it is interesting to note the curious legend that the pink of the hunting field is not due to any optical advantage but to an entirely different reason. 1986, Michael J. O'Shea, James Joyce and Heraldry, SUNY, page 69:
(countable, uncountable) A huntsman.
The pinks stand about the inn-door lighting cigars and waiting to see us start, while their hacks are led up and down the market-place, on which the inn looks. 1857, Thomas Hughes, Tom Brown's School Days:
(countable, uncountable) One of the colour balls used in snooker, coloured pink, with a value of 6 points.
Oh dear, he's left himself snookered behind the pink.
(countable, slang, uncountable) An unlettered and uncultured, but relatively prosperous, member of the middle classes; compare Babbitt, bourgeoisie.
(alt-of, alternative, countable, uncountable) Alternative form of pinko.
My own guess is that there are some pinks in the State Department and in other government departments and agencies, and of course they should be found and ousted; but it seems to me that this can be done without besmirching innocent people and without making such broadside charges that people will lose faith in all government. 1981, Edwin R. Bayley, quoting Ben Hibbs, Joe McCarthy and the Press, page 163:
(countable, slang, uncountable) The vagina or vulva.
Then Eddie did what he calls, 'Two in the pink, one in the stink.' “I held up my right forefinger and middle finger and said, “Two.” Then I held up my ring finger and said “One. Two in the pussy, one in the ass.” 2020 March 23, Mike Hatch, The Dumb Class: Boomer Junior High, Mike Hatch H&A Publishing, →ISBN, page 78:
(countable, uncountable) A pink dye or pigment.
(countable, uncountable) A pen, pencil, crayon, etc., made of pink pigment.
(countable, uncountable) Something, or a part of a thing, which is pink.
Forms
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Labels
Source
pinks
Number=Plur
lexicographic
Translations (183)
ln roze (pale red colour) · tl kulay-rosas (pale red colour) · km ផ្កាឈូក (pale red colour) · ro roz (pale red colour) · sh karanfil (flower) · ro garoafă (flower) · bg ро́зов цвят (pale red colour) · ary وردي (pale red colour) · hy վարդագույն (pale red colour) · de Rosa (pale red colour) · jv jambon (pale red colour) · vro roosa (pale red colour) · et roosa (pale red colour) · ka ვარდისფერი (pale red colour) · ur گلابی (pale red colour) · pam malare (pale red colour) · pt cravina (flower) · mfe roz (pale red colour) · mn ягаан өнгө (pale red colour) · lo ສີບົວ (pale red colour) · mos moomde (pale red colour) · hi गुलाबी (pale red colour) · yi גוואָזדיקע (flower) · fa صورتی (pale red colour) · pt cravo (flower) · pt rosa (pale red colour) · vi hồng (pale red colour) · uz pushti rang (pale red colour) · yi נעגעלע (flower) · su kayas (pale red colour) · de Nelke (flower) · nv dinilchííʼ (pale red colour) · lt rožinė (pale red colour) · my ပန်းရောင် (pale red colour) · izh roozovoi (pale red colour) · oc ròse (pale red colour) · ml പിങ്ക് (pale red colour) · ty târona (pale red colour) · ar وَرْدِيّ (pale red colour) · te చంద్రకావి (pale red colour) · mt roża (pale red colour) · cmn 粉紅色 /粉红色 (pale red colour) · lv sārts (pale red colour) · kg ya roza (pale red colour) · nl anjer (flower) · yue 康乃馨 (flower) · ja 桃色 (pale red colour) · he ורוד (pale red colour) · it rosa (pale red colour) · mg raozy (pale red colour) · vo redül (pale red colour) · kmr pîvazî (pale red colour) · fi roosa (pale red colour) · pl róż (pale red colour) · ko 분홍색 (pale red colour) · ru ро́зовый (pale red colour) · is bleikur (pale red colour) · sn pingi (pale red colour) · cmn 淡紅 /淡红 (pale red colour) · es clavel (flower) · pl goździk (flower) · gd bàn-dhearg (pale red colour) · ar زَهْرِيّ (pale red colour) · naq ǀnawara (pale red colour) · cmn 粉色 (pale red colour) · moe kamitshinanusht (pale red colour) · tr karanfil (flower) · ps ګلابي (pale red colour) · xdq бежи (pale red colour) · sm piniki (pale red colour) · cy penigan (flower) · es rosa (pale red colour) · id merah muda (pale red colour) · eo rozokoloro (pale red colour) · io rozea (pale red colour) · fi vaaleanpunainen (pale red colour) · fy anjer (flower) · pam mariwa (pale red colour) · nn nellik (flower) · th สีชมพู (flower) · ajp زهري (pale red colour) · ckb ئاڵ (pale red colour) · cs růžový (pale red colour) · sh каранфил (flower) · da lyserød (pale red colour) · hop tsorongpu (pale red colour) · pam magingkalimba (pale red colour) · ka მიხაკი (flower) · bn পরাকাষ্ঠা (pale red colour) · lou roz (pale red colour) · cy rhuddwyn (pale red colour) · so guruud (pale red colour) · tl rosas (pale red colour) · it garofano (flower) · tr pembe (pale red colour) · oc ròsa (pale red colour) · tl kalimbahin (pale red colour) · nb nellik (flower) · cmn 康乃馨 (flower) · xh pinki (pale red colour) · ha ruwan hoda (pale red colour) · fa رنگ صورتی (pale red colour) · mi māwhero (flower) · lij rêuza (pale red colour) · uk роже́вий (pale red colour) · nb rosa (pale red colour) · tg гулобӣ (pale red colour) · to lanu pinigiku (pale red colour) · lt gvazdikas (flower) · gl caravel (flower) · hu rózsaszín (pale red colour) · sv nejlika (flower) · rap heŋa heŋa (pale red colour) · az qərənfil (flower) · vo diant (flower) · az çəhrayı (pale red colour) · lou ròz (pale red colour) · ta இளஞ்சிவப்பு (pale red colour) · ar بَمْبِيّ (pale red colour) · mg rose (flower) · et nelk (flower) · id merah jambu (pale red colour) · cy pinc (pale red colour) · kn ಗುಲಾಬಿ (pale red colour) · ja 薄紅梅 (pale red colour) · gur mõpelŋo (pale red colour) · ja ナデシコ (flower) · sv rosa (pale red colour) · fr œillet (flower) · bg карамфил (flower) · tpi pink (pale red colour) · ckb پەمەیی (pale red colour) · xal оошг (pale red colour) · yue 粉紅色 /粉红色 (pale red colour) · fi pinkki (pale red colour) · ar قَرَنْفُل (flower) · cmn 桃色 (pale red colour) · tk gülgün (pale red colour) · oc ròsa (flower) · ne गुलाबी (pale red colour) · cs karafiát (flower) · af pienk (pale red colour) · mi pūwhero-mā (pale red colour) · yue 粉色 (pale red colour) · ko 핑크 (pale red colour) · cmn 泛紅 /泛红 (pale red colour) · nn rosa (pale red colour) · mi māwhero (pale red colour) · az gül rəngli (pale red colour) · acw بمبه (pale red colour) · lv rožains (pale red colour) · th สีชมพู (pale red colour) · ca clavell (flower) · ja ピンク (pale red colour) · fo ljósareyður (pale red colour) · fi neilikka (flower) · ja 淡紅色 (pale red colour) · ru гвозди́ка (flower) · ms merah jambu (pale red colour) · aeb رُوزْ (pale red colour) · es rosado (pale red colour) · hu szegfű (flower) · si රෝස (pale red colour) · sk ružový (pale red colour) · az pəmbə (pale red colour) · fr rose (pale red colour) · ce беса-цiениг (pale red colour) · ca rosa (pale red colour) · ms merah muda (pale red colour) · fy rôze (pale red colour) · nl roze (pale red colour) · ga bándearg (pale red colour) · sv skär (pale red colour) · pt cor-de-rosa (pale red colour) · prs گلابی (pale red colour) · el ροζ (pale red colour) · chr ᎩᎦᎨᎢᏳᏍᏗ (pale red colour) · lv rozā (pale red colour) · kmr pembeyî (pale red colour) · zu okuphinki (pale red colour) · acw زهري (pale red colour) · mg mavokely (pale red colour) · ky роза (flower)
Origin uncertain; perhaps from Dutch pinken (“to blink”) or the English verb pink from the same source. Perhaps from the notion of the petals being pinked. An earlier word for similar flesh-like colors, mostly displaced by pink, was incarnation ([1300s]; see Etymonline) and carnation.
Meanings
(intransitive) To become pink in color, to redden.
The woman’s pale skin pinked as she shook her head. “No. It’s out of my budget. Come on, Sammy” 2014, Teresa Carpenter, Her Boss by Arrangement, page 136:
(transitive) To turn (something) pink.
They are all nearly nude, pinked and bronzed by the sun. 1961, Tennessee Williams, The Night of the Iguana, New Directions Publishing, published 2009, act II, page 46:
The rabbits, still lining the roadside, but now pinked by dawn, craned their necks to follow her departure. 1985, Carl Sagan, chapter 3, in Contact, Simon & Schuster, published 1997, page 57:
(transitive) To turn (a topaz or other gemstone) pink by the application of heat.
Because heating is relatively easy to perform once one is trained to do it, it can be assumed that any pink topaz from Brazil, the gem’s main modern producer, is colored more by man than nature.[…] Relatively few stones from Brazil have this trace element in enough quantity for what dealers call “pinking.” 2012, David Federman, Modern Jeweler’s Consumer Guide to Colored Gemstones, page 227:
Probably ultimately imitative, or from Dutch pingelen (“to do fine needlework”) or Low German [Term?]; compare Low German pinken (“hit, peck”) and Pinke (“big needle”).
Meanings
(obsolete) A small hole made by puncturing something, as with a rapier, dagger, or pinking iron. ▸ A small hole or puncture made by a sharp, slender instrument such as a rapier, poniard or dagger, or (by extension) a bullet; a stab.
A freebooter’s pink, sir, three or four inches deep. 1607, Thomas Middleton, Your Five Gallants, iii 5:
The fellow's a shrewd fellow at a pink. 1638, “Lady's Trial”, in Ford, III. i:
He is spotted with marks of stabs and revolver 'pinks', and he takes all his wounds quite as matter of course. 1885 May 13, Pall Mall G., 4/I:
At a great word she will her poynard draw, Looke for the pincke if once thou giue the lye. 1601, Weever, Mirr. Mart., C j
(obsolete) A small hole made by puncturing something, as with a rapier, dagger, or pinking iron. ▸ A small hole or eyelet punched in a garment for decoration, as with a pinking iron; a scallop.
Item,..for iiil* powdringis and pinkis to the sam goune, .xij s 1512, Acc. Ld. High Treas. Scot, IV 215:
Is this pinke of equall proportion to this cut? 1599, Ben Jonson, Cynthia's Rev., volume iv:
You had rather have / An ulcer in your body than a pink / More in your clothes. c. 1632–1641, Ben Jonson, Magnetick Lady, iii. 4
small pinks, cuts or iagges in clothes 1598, Florio, Tagliuzzi:
Probably ultimately imitative, or from Dutch pingelen (“to do fine needlework”) or Low German [Term?]; compare Low German pinken (“hit, peck”) and Pinke (“big needle”).
Meanings
To decorate a piece of clothing or fabric by adding holes or by scalloping the fringe.
To prick with a sword.
‘Pugh!’ says she, ‘you have pinked a man in a duel, that's all.’ 1749, Henry Fielding, The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling, volume (please specify |volume=I to VI), London: A[ndrew] Millar, […], →OCLC:
Within three seconds D'Artagnan pinked him thrice, dedicating each thrust as he dealt it. “One for Athos!" he cried. “One for Porthos!" and at the last, “one for Aramis!” 1999 [1844], Jacques Le Clercq, The Three Musketeers, translation of original by Alexandre Dumas, page 187:
To wound by irony, criticism, or ridicule.
“Young man, if you have no authority, let me speak to someone who has! Put me through to Mr. Berquist.” The stooge suddenly lost his smile and Jubal thought gleefully that he had at last pinked him. 1961, Robert A. Heinlein, Stranger in a Strange Land, New York: Avon, →OCLC, page 127:
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.
And then the record changed, a piano pinking high a Poulenc-like theme. 1959, Anthony Burgess, Beds in the East (The Malayan Trilogy), published 1972, page 590:
Forms
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pinking
Tense=Pres, VerbForm=Part
lexicographic
pinked
Tense=Past, VerbForm=Part
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pinked
Tense=Past
lexicographic
pinks
Number=Sing, Person=3, Tense=Pres
lexicographic
Translations (3)
ru барахли́ть ((of a motor car) to emit a high "pinking" noise) · fr pétiller ((of a motor car) to emit a high "pinking" noise) · hu kopog ((of a motor car) to emit a high "pinking" noise)
Come, thou monarch of the vine,
Plumpy Bacchus with pink eyne!
In thy vats our cares be drowned,
With thy grapes our hairs be crowned. c. 1606–1607 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Anthonie and Cleopatra”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act II, scene vii]:
A Hungry Fox that had got a Cock in his Eye, and could not tell how to come at him ; cast himself at his Length upon the Ground, and there he lay winking and pinking as if he had Sore Eyes. 1692, Roger L'Estrange, “A Fox and a Cock”, in Fables of Aesop and Other Eminent Mythologists, page 409:
(historical, uncountable) Any of various lake pigments or dyes in yellow, yellowish green or brown shades, made with plant coloring and a metallic oxide base.
To make Dutch pink, boil the stems of woad in a solution of alum, and then mix the liquor with clay, marl, or chalk, which will become mixed with the colour of the decoction 1816, Pierre François Tingry, The Painter and Varnisher's Guide, page 245:
Carlyle (2001) lists from her study of nineteenth century British documentary sources yellow carmine, Dutch pink, English pink and yellow lake in descending order of intensity. 2008, Nicholas Eastaugh, Valentine Walsh, Tracey Chaplin, Pigment Compendium, page 156: