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1839. H. Ainsworth, Jack Sheppard, ep. I., ch. vi. The old and ruinous prison belonging to the liberty of the Bishop of Winchester (whose palace formerly adjoined the river); called the Clink.
2. (thieves').—Silver plate; also clinch.—See Clank.
1781. G. Parker, View of Society, II. He wouldn't have been hobbled but the melting-pot receiver proved his selling the clink to him.
3. (Scotch colloquial).—Money. Cf., Chink.
1724-40. Ramsay, Tea-t. Misc., 14. The Warld is rul'd by Asses, And the Wise are sway'd by clink.
1789. Burns, Let. J. Tennant, May ye get . . . Monie a laugh, and monie a drink, An' aye enough o' needfu' clink.
1817. Hogg, Tales and Sk., II., 2, 3. Such young ladies as were particularly beautiful . . . and had the clink. [m.]
4. (colloquial). Also bum-clink.—A very indifferent beer made from the gyle of malt and the sweepings of hop bins, and brewed especially for the benefit of agricultural labourers in harvest time.
1863. Sala, Capt. Dang., I., ix., 266. A miserable hovel of an inn . . . where they ate their rye-bread and drank their sour clink. [m.]
To kiss the clink, verbal phr. (old).—To be imprisoned. [From Clink, subs., sense 1.] For synonyms, see Cop.
1588. John Udall, State of the Ch. of England, etc., p. 22 (Arber's ed.) Diotr. Awaye, thou rayling hypocrite, I will talke with thee no longer, if I catche thee in London, I will make thee kiss the clinke for this geare. Paul. In deede the Clynke, Gate-house, White-lyon, and the Fleet, haue bin your onely argumentes whereby you haue proued your cause these many yeeres.
1889. Gentleman's Magazine, p. 598. s.v.
Clinker, subs.—1. (in plural, old).—Fetters. For synonyms, see Darbies.
1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, Clinkers: the Irons Felons wear in Gaols.
1785. Grose, Dict. Vulg. Tongue, Clinkers: irons worn by prisoners.
1811. Lexicon Balatronicum, s.v.
2. (old).—A crafty, designing man.
1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, Clinker: a crafty fellow.
1785. Grose, Dict. Vulg. Tongue, s.v.
1811. Lexicon Balatronicum, s.v.
3. (thieves').—A chain of any kind, whether fetter or watch chain. Cf., sense 1.
4. (pugilistic).—A well-delivered blow; a 'hot-'un.'
c. 1863. Thackeray, Men's Wives, Frank Berry, ch. i. Berry goes gallantly in, and delivers a clinker on the gown-boy's jaw.
5. (colloquial, chiefly sporting).—Any thing or person of first-rate and triumphant quality; also a clincher (q.v.); a 'settler.' Cf., sense 4.
1733. Swift, Life and Character Dean St. A protestant's a special clinker. It serves for sceptic and free-*thinker. [m.]
1869. Daily Telegraph, 5 April. Despite the indifferent manner in which Vagabond cut up at the finish of the Metropolitan, quite sufficient was seen of him to prove that at a mile and a half he is a clinker.
1871. Daily News, 17 April, p. 2., col. 1. Ripponden and Cheesewring performed so indifferently as to strengthen the doubts whether they are really clinkers.
6. (common).—Deposits of fæcal or seminal matter in the hair about the anus or the female pudendum.
7. (common).—A lie. For synonyms, see Whopper.
To have clinkers in one's bum, phr. (vulgar).—To be uneasy; unable to sit still.
