Tink"er (?), n. [From Tink, because the tinker's way of proclaiming his trade is to beat a kettle, or because in his work he makes a tinkling noise. Johnson.] 1. A mender of brass kettles, pans, and other metal ware. "Tailors and tinkers." Piers Plowman.

2. One skilled in a variety of small mechanical work.

3. (Ordnance) A small mortar on the end of a staff.

4. (Zoöl.) (a) A young mackerel about two years old. (b) The chub mackerel. (c) The silversides. (d) A skate. [Prov. Eng.]

5. (Zoöl.) The razor-billed auk.

Tink"er, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Tinkered (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Tinkering.] To mend or solder, as metal wares; hence, more generally, to mend.

Tink"er, v. i. To busy one's self in mending old kettles, pans, etc.; to play the tinker; to be occupied with small mechanical works.

Tink"er (?), n. [From Tink, because the tinker's way of proclaiming his trade is to beat a kettle, or because in his work he makes a tinkling noise. Johnson.] 1. A mender of brass kettles, pans, and other metal ware. "Tailors and tinkers." Piers Plowman.

2. One skilled in a variety of small mechanical work.

3. (Ordnance) A small mortar on the end of a staff.

4. (Zoöl.) (a) A young mackerel about two years old. (b) The chub mackerel. (c) The silversides. (d) A skate. [Prov. Eng.]

5. (Zoöl.) The razor-billed auk.

Tink"er, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Tinkered (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Tinkering.] To mend or solder, as metal wares; hence, more generally, to mend.

Tink"er, v. i. To busy one's self in mending old kettles, pans, etc.; to play the tinker; to be occupied with small mechanical works.

• an itinerant mender of household utensils
  
• (mostly British) a travelling Gypsy etc
  
• to fiddle with something in an attempt to fix, mend or improve it, especially in an experimental or unskilled manner
  
• to work as a tinker