kiddlywink

plural kiddlywinks · alternative kiddle-a-wink · alternative kiddleywink

1. CornwallhistoricalA small pub only licensed to sell beer or cider.

   1980, John Hugh Norton Mason, West country walks and legends, Academy Chicago Pub Bessie's Cove was said to be named after a Bessie Burrows who kept a small 'kiddlywink' inn on the cliff-top.

   2 more examples

   "And we have a notion how much he had to drink in the kiddlywink."

   1974, Marjorie Watson, Heir to Polventon, →ISBN

   There's a kiddlywink there where my crew and l have spent many a happy hour.”

   2011, Patricia Gaffney, Lily, Open Road Media, →ISBN

   Synonyms: kiddly

2. historicalA small village shop.
3. humorousA child.

   'Well, kiddlywinks' –she touched her face round the edges– 'we've somebody coming tos ee us. Tomorrow, first thing.'

   2014, Andrea Ashworth, Once in a House on Fire: Picador Classic, Pan Macmillan, →ISBN

   2 more examples

   'My sweet kiddlywinks, we are going on a car trip into the mountains and there we 'll stay in Danny's house in the rainforest.'

   2007, Ally Blake, Millionaire to the Rescue, Harlequin, →ISBN, page 35

   Frankie wasn't sure he liked being called a kiddlywink but, as the air fizzed around him, he felt his worries dissolve like a spoonful of sherbet

   2013, Anna Kemp, The Great Brain Robbery, Simon and Schuster, →ISBN