Dictionary

skinnymalinks en · NOUN

Etymology

Uncertain. Possibly from a Scottish children's song, Skinamalinky Long Leg, about a thin man and his adventures.

Meanings

1. (UK, dated, in US, informal) A skinny person.
   • 'But she's a skinnymalinks.' 'She had lots of puppyfat before puberty stretched her out. […] 1995, Emma Donoghue, Hood, Hamish Hamilton, →ISBN, page 202:
   • Too often, the media have played down the positive aspects of bulimia, displaying endless photographs of skinnymalinkses, none of whom look as if they could down more than as^([sic]) dozen tubes of Pringles (haven't you tried them? oh but you must!) without leaving the lavatory in a state of disarray. 1995 April 9, Wallace Arnold, “Lunch and a little light bulimia with friends”, in The Independent:
   • Near-synonyms: skin and bones, spindleshanks; see also Thesaurus:thin person
   • 'Oh, Lord, you've turned into a right skinnymalinks,' she noticed. 'Is that because of the boyfriend?' 1999, Marian Keyes, Last Chance Saloon, Poolbeg, →ISBN, page 423:

Forms

Relateds

skidamarink a dinky dink, skidamarink a doo, I love you

Synonyms

thin person · skin and bones · spindleshanks