perjink, a. Sc.
(pəˈdʒɪŋk)
Also 9 prejink, per-, prejinct.
[Origin unknown. The word has the form of a Fr. or L. derivative; Jam. suggests a F. *parjoint or L. *perjunctus; but these words, even if they existed, would hardly give the sense.]
Exact, precise, minutely accurate; prim, neat.
| 1808 Jamieson, Perjink, 1. Exact, precise, minutely accurate; prejink, Fife. 2. Trim, so as to appear finical. 1821 Galt Ann. Parish xxxvii. 299 All my things were kept by her in a most perjinct and excellent order. 1843 A. Bethune Sc. Fireside Stor. 121 She was a perjink body, and carried her head our heigh. 1889 Barrie Window in Thrums xiv, He was looking unusually perjink. |
| β 1808 Prejink [see above]. 1822 Galt Provost xxvii. 203 The exposure that prejink Miss Peggy had made of herself. 1829 Blackw. Mag. XXVI. 242 A prim and prejink⁓looking fellow. 1839 Moir Mansie Wauch xxiv. 306 Mr. Batter..looked as prejinct as a pikestaff. |
Hence
perˈjinks (
pre-)
n. pl., in
phr. on one's perjinks, on one's good behaviour, careful of details;
perˈjinkety (
pre-)
a. = perjink;
perˈjinkity (
pre-)
n., in pl., exact details, niceties, proprieties;
perˈjinkly (
pre-)
adv., with minute accuracy, primly.
| 1822 Galt Sir A. Wylie xl. II. 68 If we maun be on our prejincks, will you an' her baith rin awa thegither? 1822 ― Steam-boat ix. 180 A young genteel man, with a most methodical gravat, prejinctly tied. 1830 ― Lawrie T. v. iv. (1849) 205 Jointures, and tochers, and a' the other prejinkities of marriage-articles. 1887 Ruskin Præterita II. 390 [She] had always what my mother called ‘perjinketty’ ways, which made her typically an old maid in later years. |