Tinker
From The Art and Popular Culture Encyclopedia
| Revision as of 08:49, 5 May 2013 Jahsonic (Talk | contribs) ← Previous diff |
Revision as of 08:53, 5 May 2013 Jahsonic (Talk | contribs) Next diff → |
||
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
| {{Template}} | {{Template}} | ||
| - | '''Quinqui [[jargon]]''' is associated with ''[[quinquilleros]]'' ([[tinker]]s), a semi-nomadic group who live mainly in the northern half of [[Spain]]. They prefer to be called ''mercheros''. They are reduced in number and possibly vanishing as a distinct group. | + | {{About|itinerant tinsmiths}} |
| - | The language is an old form of Castilian, ''[[Germanía]]'', with elements of [[Caló language|Caló]], a dialect of the Spanish [[Romani people|Roma]]. The term comes from the word ''quincallería'' (ironmongery), from [[ironmonger]]s who originated this [[Cant (language)|cant]] as part of their trade. Because the men were frequently blamed for petty crime, in modern [[Spanish language|Spanish]] the word is associated with references to [[delinquent]], [[petty thief]], or hoodlum. The mercheros identify as a distinct group separate from the Roma ''[[gitano]]s''. | + | A '''tinker''' was originally an [[itinerant]] [[tinsmith]], who mended household utensils. The word is attested from the 13th century and may be of imitative origin.<ref name="ced">{{cite web |title=tinker|url=http://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/tinker |publisher=Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 11th Edition. Retrieved October 24, 2012 from CollinsDictionary.com}}</ref> Some [[travelling people]] and [[Romani people|Gypsies]] adopted this lifestyle and the name was particularly associated with indigenous [[Irish Travellers|Irish]] and [[Scottish Gypsy and Traveller groups|Scottish Traveller]]s. However, this usage is disputed and considered offensive by some.<ref name="ced"/> Tinkering is therefore the process of adapting, meddling or adjusting something in the course of making repairs or improvements, a process also known as [[bricolage]]. |
| - | Scholars have many theories about the social origins of ''mercheros'', summarized as the following: | + | The term "little tinker" is now widely used in the UK as a term of endearment for a cheeky young child.<ref name="ced"/> Some modern day nomads with an Irish, Scottish, or English influence call themselves "techno-tinkers" or "[[technogypsie]]s" and are found to possess a revival of sorts of the romantic view of the tinker's lifestyle.<ref>"Techno-Gypsies, Techno-Nomads, and Techno-Tinkers" 2005 by Leaf McGowan/Thomas Baurley. Seattle, Washington. Tree Leaves Publishing.</ref> The family name "Tinker" is of Anglo-Saxon origin, and does not have an Irish or Romany connection. |
| - | *Descendants of mechanical workers who arrived in Spain from central Europe in the 16th century; | + | <!-- "These paragraphs seem to related to a particlular family name, not directly related to the occupation "tinker" |
| - | *Descendants of peasants who lost their land in the 16th century; | + | Tinker as a surname is a very old Anglo-Saxon name, with variations of Le Tinklere and Tinkler, appearing when surnames were adopted, many from occupations. Having no Irish or Romany connections, it is found mainly in Yorkshire and Norfolk. A Tinker was listed among the [[Pilgrim (Plymouth Colony)|Pilgrims]] who sailed on the ''[[Mayflower]]'' in 1620 to the [[New World]], but he died within a few months. |
| - | *Descendants of intermarriage between the Roma and non-Roma populations; | + | |
| - | *[[Morisco|Descendants of Muslims]] who became nomads after the expulsion in the 15th century to escape persecution; and/or | + | |
| - | *A mixture of the above. | + | |
| - | ==Notable mercheros== | + | The Tinker name did not occur in Ireland until the late 17th century, after the [[English Civil War]], when former members of [[Oliver Cromwell]]'s [[New Model Army]] settled there after service. The [[Romani people|Gypsy]] connotation arose later from tinkers who travelled the British Isles to ply their trade. Tinkers were originally not [[Romanies]] nor [[Romani people|Gypsies]], although some Romany adopted the tinker's trade. |
| - | *[[Eleuterio Sánchez]], aka ''[[El Lute]]''. A petty thief in his early life, he was convicted of armed robbery and murder; after escaping from prison, he was listed as "The Most Wanted" by the Spanish police. Later he earned a law degree and wrote five books. He was pardoned at age 39. | + | |
| + | Tinker descendants are recorded as living in the parish of Letheringsett near Holt in North Norfolk. After moving to Kensington in London, others now live mainly in the South of the UK.{{Citation needed|date=September 2010}} | ||
| + | --> | ||
| + | ==Tinker's dam == | ||
| + | The tinker's dam is a wad of wet paper or other pliable material used to dam up a hole in a metal item being repaired by the tinker using molten solder. Thus the tinker's dam is worthless after the repair is completed.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.usingenglish.com/reference/idioms/not+worth+a+tinker's+dam.html | title=A Tinker's dam | publisher=usingenglish.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://books.google.ie/books?id=1rZCAQAAIAAJ&q=%22dough+or+of+soft+clay+raised+around+a+spot+which+a+plumber%22&dq=%22dough+or+of+soft+clay+raised+around+a+spot+which+a+plumber%22&hl=en&sa=X&ei=7n9WT-rtBIbrObHshc4I&ved=0CDEQ6AEwAA |title= Tinkers |author=John Bonner, George William Curtis |year=1905 |work=Harper's weekly |publisher= Harper's weekly |volume=49|pages=1424|accessdate=2 April 2012}}</ref> | ||
| + | |||
| + | A tinker's dam was more commonly a barrier of mud or clay built up around a hole in a pot or a pan. The solder was then poured in and when it solidified the dam was simply brushed away. The solder would then be rasped and smoothed down by the tinker. | ||
| + | |||
| + | This may have influenced the British expression of contempt | ||
| + | "a '''tinker's damn'''" or "a '''tinker's cuss'''", applied to something considered insignificant. In common usage, the expression is used this way: "I don't give a tinker's damn what the Vicar thinks", or sometimes shortened to, "I don't give a tinker's about the Vicar." In this context, the speaker is expressing contempt for the local clergyman and his opinion. A tinker's curse was considered of little significance because tinkers were reputed to swear habitually.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/tinkers-damn.html |title=A tinker's damn |publisher=phrases.org.uk}}</ref> | ||
| ==See also== | ==See also== | ||
| - | *[[Caló (Spanish Romani)]] | + | * [[Mercheros]] |
| - | *[[Yeniche people]] | + | |
| - | *[[Sarakatsani]] | + | |
| {{GFDL}} | {{GFDL}} | ||
Revision as of 08:53, 5 May 2013
|
Related e |
|
Featured: |
Welcome to Art and Popular Culture, a nobrow wiki for the loftiest of intellectuals and the most jaded hedonists; exploring the hidden links between "mainstream" and "underground" culture.
Methodology
- "Method of this work: literary montage. I have nothing to say only to show. [...]" -- Walter Benjamin
- This website is a "rhizome" and allows for multiple, non-hierarchical entry and exit points. --J. W. Geerinck
Philosophy
- “In the illusory babels of language, an artist might advance specifically to get lost, and to intoxicate himself in dizzying syntaxes, seeking odd intersections of meaning, strange corridors of history, unexpected echoes, unknown humors, or voids of knowledge… but this quest is risky, full of bottomless fictions and endless architectures and counter-architectures… at the end, if there is an end, are perhaps only meaningless reverberations.” --"A Museum of Language in the Vicinity of Art" (1968) by Robert Smithson
A tinker was originally an itinerant tinsmith, who mended household utensils. The word is attested from the 13th century and may be of imitative origin.<ref name="ced">{{
- if: {{#if: http://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/tinker | {{#if: tinker |1}}}}
||Error on call to Template:cite web: Parameters url and title must be specified
}}{{
- if:
| {{#if: {{#if: | {{#if: |1}}}}
||Error on call to template:cite web: Parameters archiveurl and archivedate must be both specified or both omitted
}} }}{{#if:
| {{#if:
| [[{{{authorlink}}}|{{#if:
| {{{last}}}{{#if: | , {{{first}}} }}
| {{{author}}}
}}]]
| {{#if:
| {{{last}}}{{#if: | , {{{first}}} }}
| {{{author}}}
}}
}}
}}{{#if:
| {{#if: | ; {{{coauthors}}} }}
}}{{#if: |
{{#if:
| ({{{date}}})
| {{#if:
| {{#if:
| ({{{month}}} {{{year}}})
| ({{{year}}})
}}
}}
|}}
}}{{#if:
| . }}{{
#if:
| {{{editor}}}:
}}{{#if:
| {{#if: | {{#if: tinker | [{{{archiveurl}}} tinker] }}}}
| {{#if: http://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/tinker | {{#if: tinker | tinker }}}}
}}{{#if: | ({{{language}}}) }}{{#if:
| ()
}}{{#if:
| . {{{work}}}
}}{{#if:
| {{{pages}}}
}}{{#if: Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 11th Edition. Retrieved October 24, 2012 from CollinsDictionary.com
| . Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 11th Edition. Retrieved October 24, 2012 from CollinsDictionary.com{{#if:
|
| {{#if: || }}
}}
}}{{#if:
||{{#if:
| ({{{date}}})
| {{#if:
| {{#if:
| ({{{month}}} {{{year}}})
| ({{{year}}})
}}
}}
}}
}}.{{#if:
| Archived from the original on [[{{{archivedate}}}]].
}}{{#if:
| Retrieved on {{#time:Y F j|{{{accessdate}}}{{#if: | , {{{accessyear}}}}}}}.
}}{{#if:
| Retrieved on {{{accessmonthday}}}, {{{accessyear}}}.
}}{{#if:
| Retrieved on {{{accessdaymonth}}} {{{accessyear}}}.
}}{{#if:
| “{{{quote}}}”
}}</ref> Some travelling people and Gypsies adopted this lifestyle and the name was particularly associated with indigenous Irish and Scottish Travellers. However, this usage is disputed and considered offensive by some.<ref name="ced"/> Tinkering is therefore the process of adapting, meddling or adjusting something in the course of making repairs or improvements, a process also known as bricolage.
The term "little tinker" is now widely used in the UK as a term of endearment for a cheeky young child.<ref name="ced"/> Some modern day nomads with an Irish, Scottish, or English influence call themselves "techno-tinkers" or "technogypsies" and are found to possess a revival of sorts of the romantic view of the tinker's lifestyle.<ref>"Techno-Gypsies, Techno-Nomads, and Techno-Tinkers" 2005 by Leaf McGowan/Thomas Baurley. Seattle, Washington. Tree Leaves Publishing.</ref> The family name "Tinker" is of Anglo-Saxon origin, and does not have an Irish or Romany connection.
Tinker's dam
The tinker's dam is a wad of wet paper or other pliable material used to dam up a hole in a metal item being repaired by the tinker using molten solder. Thus the tinker's dam is worthless after the repair is completed.<ref>{{
- if: {{#if: http://www.usingenglish.com/reference/idioms/not+worth+a+tinker's+dam.html | {{#if: A Tinker's dam |1}}}}
||Error on call to Template:cite web: Parameters url and title must be specified
}}{{
- if:
| {{#if: {{#if: | {{#if: |1}}}}
||Error on call to template:cite web: Parameters archiveurl and archivedate must be both specified or both omitted
}} }}{{#if:
| {{#if:
| [[{{{authorlink}}}|{{#if:
| {{{last}}}{{#if: | , {{{first}}} }}
| {{{author}}}
}}]]
| {{#if:
| {{{last}}}{{#if: | , {{{first}}} }}
| {{{author}}}
}}
}}
}}{{#if:
| {{#if: | ; {{{coauthors}}} }}
}}{{#if: |
{{#if:
| ({{{date}}})
| {{#if:
| {{#if:
| ({{{month}}} {{{year}}})
| ({{{year}}})
}}
}}
|}}
}}{{#if:
| . }}{{
#if:
| {{{editor}}}:
}}{{#if:
| {{#if: | {{#if: A Tinker's dam | [{{{archiveurl}}} A Tinker's dam] }}}}
| {{#if: http://www.usingenglish.com/reference/idioms/not+worth+a+tinker's+dam.html | {{#if: A Tinker's dam | A Tinker's dam }}}}
}}{{#if: | ({{{language}}}) }}{{#if:
| ()
}}{{#if:
| . {{{work}}}
}}{{#if:
| {{{pages}}}
}}{{#if: usingenglish.com
| . usingenglish.com{{#if:
|
| {{#if: || }}
}}
}}{{#if:
||{{#if:
| ({{{date}}})
| {{#if:
| {{#if:
| ({{{month}}} {{{year}}})
| ({{{year}}})
}}
}}
}}
}}.{{#if:
| Archived from the original on [[{{{archivedate}}}]].
}}{{#if:
| Retrieved on {{#time:Y F j|{{{accessdate}}}{{#if: | , {{{accessyear}}}}}}}.
}}{{#if:
| Retrieved on {{{accessmonthday}}}, {{{accessyear}}}.
}}{{#if:
| Retrieved on {{{accessdaymonth}}} {{{accessyear}}}.
}}{{#if:
| “{{{quote}}}”
}}</ref><ref>{{
- if: {{#if: http://books.google.ie/books?id=1rZCAQAAIAAJ&q=%22dough+or+of+soft+clay+raised+around+a+spot+which+a+plumber%22&dq=%22dough+or+of+soft+clay+raised+around+a+spot+which+a+plumber%22&hl=en&sa=X&ei=7n9WT-rtBIbrObHshc4I&ved=0CDEQ6AEwAA | {{#if: Tinkers |1}}}}
||Error on call to Template:cite web: Parameters url and title must be specified
}}{{
- if:
| {{#if: {{#if: | {{#if: |1}}}}
||Error on call to template:cite web: Parameters archiveurl and archivedate must be both specified or both omitted
}} }}{{#if: John Bonner, George William Curtis
| {{#if:
| [[{{{authorlink}}}|{{#if:
| {{{last}}}{{#if: | , {{{first}}} }}
| John Bonner, George William Curtis
}}]]
| {{#if:
| {{{last}}}{{#if: | , {{{first}}} }}
| John Bonner, George William Curtis
}}
}}
}}{{#if: John Bonner, George William Curtis
| {{#if: | ; {{{coauthors}}} }}
}}{{#if: John Bonner, George William Curtis|
{{#if:
| ({{{date}}})
| {{#if: 1905
| {{#if:
| ({{{month}}} 1905)
| (1905)
}}
}}
|}}
}}{{#if: John Bonner, George William Curtis
| . }}{{
#if:
| {{{editor}}}:
}}{{#if:
| {{#if: | {{#if: Tinkers | [{{{archiveurl}}} Tinkers] }}}}
| {{#if: http://books.google.ie/books?id=1rZCAQAAIAAJ&q=%22dough+or+of+soft+clay+raised+around+a+spot+which+a+plumber%22&dq=%22dough+or+of+soft+clay+raised+around+a+spot+which+a+plumber%22&hl=en&sa=X&ei=7n9WT-rtBIbrObHshc4I&ved=0CDEQ6AEwAA | {{#if: Tinkers | Tinkers }}}}
}}{{#if: | ({{{language}}}) }}{{#if:
| ()
}}{{#if: Harper's weekly
| . Harper's weekly
}}{{#if: 1424
| 1424
}}{{#if: Harper's weekly
| . Harper's weekly{{#if: John Bonner, George William Curtis
|
| {{#if: 1905 || }}
}}
}}{{#if: John Bonner, George William Curtis
||{{#if:
| ({{{date}}})
| {{#if: 1905
| {{#if:
| ({{{month}}} 1905)
| (1905)
}}
}}
}}
}}.{{#if:
| Archived from the original on [[{{{archivedate}}}]].
}}{{#if: 2 April 2012
| Retrieved on {{#time:Y F j|2 April 2012{{#if: | , {{{accessyear}}}}}}}.
}}{{#if:
| Retrieved on {{{accessmonthday}}}, {{{accessyear}}}.
}}{{#if:
| Retrieved on {{{accessdaymonth}}} {{{accessyear}}}.
}}{{#if:
| “{{{quote}}}”
}}</ref>
A tinker's dam was more commonly a barrier of mud or clay built up around a hole in a pot or a pan. The solder was then poured in and when it solidified the dam was simply brushed away. The solder would then be rasped and smoothed down by the tinker.
This may have influenced the British expression of contempt "a tinker's damn" or "a tinker's cuss", applied to something considered insignificant. In common usage, the expression is used this way: "I don't give a tinker's damn what the Vicar thinks", or sometimes shortened to, "I don't give a tinker's about the Vicar." In this context, the speaker is expressing contempt for the local clergyman and his opinion. A tinker's curse was considered of little significance because tinkers were reputed to swear habitually.<ref>{{
- if: {{#if: http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/tinkers-damn.html | {{#if: A tinker's damn |1}}}}
||Error on call to Template:cite web: Parameters url and title must be specified
}}{{
- if:
| {{#if: {{#if: | {{#if: |1}}}}
||Error on call to template:cite web: Parameters archiveurl and archivedate must be both specified or both omitted
}} }}{{#if:
| {{#if:
| [[{{{authorlink}}}|{{#if:
| {{{last}}}{{#if: | , {{{first}}} }}
| {{{author}}}
}}]]
| {{#if:
| {{{last}}}{{#if: | , {{{first}}} }}
| {{{author}}}
}}
}}
}}{{#if:
| {{#if: | ; {{{coauthors}}} }}
}}{{#if: |
{{#if:
| ({{{date}}})
| {{#if:
| {{#if:
| ({{{month}}} {{{year}}})
| ({{{year}}})
}}
}}
|}}
}}{{#if:
| . }}{{
#if:
| {{{editor}}}:
}}{{#if:
| {{#if: | {{#if: A tinker's damn | [{{{archiveurl}}} A tinker's damn] }}}}
| {{#if: http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/tinkers-damn.html | {{#if: A tinker's damn | A tinker's damn }}}}
}}{{#if: | ({{{language}}}) }}{{#if:
| ()
}}{{#if:
| . {{{work}}}
}}{{#if:
| {{{pages}}}
}}{{#if: phrases.org.uk
| . phrases.org.uk{{#if:
|
| {{#if: || }}
}}
}}{{#if:
||{{#if:
| ({{{date}}})
| {{#if:
| {{#if:
| ({{{month}}} {{{year}}})
| ({{{year}}})
}}
}}
}}
}}.{{#if:
| Archived from the original on [[{{{archivedate}}}]].
}}{{#if:
| Retrieved on {{#time:Y F j|{{{accessdate}}}{{#if: | , {{{accessyear}}}}}}}.
}}{{#if:
| Retrieved on {{{accessmonthday}}}, {{{accessyear}}}.
}}{{#if:
| Retrieved on {{{accessdaymonth}}} {{{accessyear}}}.
}}{{#if:
| “{{{quote}}}”
}}</ref>
See also
