English Explanatory Dictionary

dinkum

English dictionary entry

Meanings

adj
  1. Genuine, true, honest, on the level.
noun
  1. Hard work.
  2. Truth.

Pronunciation

/ˈdɪŋkəm/ EN-AU ck1 dinkum.ogg

Word forms

dinkum more dinkum most dinkum

Etymology

Unknown. Earliest recorded use in the phrase fair dinkum in 1879, from Australia. Also recorded (slightly later) from Derbyshire and Lincolnshire dialect. Perhaps related to Gloucestershire dialect ding (“to work hard”).

Synonyms

dinky-die

Derived words

dinkum oil fair dinkum straight dinkum
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