gink
noun/ɡɪŋk/
Etymology Unknown but possibly from similar senses of kink or geck. Cf. geek.
1
A guy, a fellow, especially (derogatory) a foolish, unworldly, or socially inept man; a goof.
- You know, I've always thought that the best man in the world is hardly good enough for any woman. But when it comes to the best girl in all the universe caring for an ordinary gink like me, well, you'll have to let me get used to it.1913 November 4, Harry Truman, “Letter from Harry S. Truman to Bess Wallace, November 4, 1913”, in Harry S. Truman Presidential Library and Museum, archived from the original on 20 Sep 2020, page 1:
- […]so if any of you ginks are me frien's yeh better keep outen here so's yeh won't get hurted[…]1914 October – 1916 July, Edgar Rice Burroughs, The Mucker, Chicago, Ill.: A[lexander] C[aldwell] McClurg & Co., published 31 October 1921, →OCLC:
4 more examples
- Don't see a movie in it myself, but those Hollywood ginks will take anything.1931, Grace Hegger Lewis, Half a Loaf, page 189:
- [Asian sage:] You have a great, great fear of Officer Pupp. Ain't you, mouse? / [Ignatz:] Yes. / [Asian sage:] I can tell you how to overcome it. / [Ignatz:] Tell me. / [Asian sage:] Gimme dime, I tell. / [Ignatz:] Here it is. / [Asian sage, walking away from an aghast Ignatz:] Don't be afraid of the big gink. / [Officer Pupp, incoming:] Gink? What gink?1934 May 2, George Herriman, Krazy Kat, Wednesday, comic strip, →ISBN, page 125:
- No wonder the country's on its bloody knees! You ginks are a bloody disgrace to the human race!1973, Richard Cowper, Clone, Doubleday, page 33:
- This stuff ain't going to help me in August. The summer ginks come down here in June.1975, Peter Benchley, Carl Gottlieb, Jaws: