"Skinny Malink"

[s***@gmail.com]

When I was a kid in the forties my family called me a "skinny malink." I
knew that meant I was underweight. I have looked all over and I can't find
etyology or origin of that label. I can't find the word malink in any
dictionary or encyclopedia. I even looked at a Yiddish dictionary. I have
found to reference to the term on the web so I know I remembered it
correctly and I am spelling right. Unfortunately after corresponding by
e-mail I found neither source using the term knows its origins.
I need to know it's origin for a novel I am hard at work writing--and would
appreciate if someone out there in usage land can shed some light on the
origin of "Skinny Malink.
Thanks,
Bernard Wisser

I am not alone! Thanks. Did you ever find out the origin?

[charles]

Post by s***@gmail.com

When I was a kid in the forties my family called me a "skinny malink."
I knew that meant I was underweight. I have looked all over and I can't
find etyology or origin of that label. I can't find the word malink in
any dictionary or encyclopedia. I even looked at a Yiddish dictionary.
I have found to reference to the term on the web so I know I remembered
it correctly and I am spelling right. Unfortunately after corresponding
by e-mail I found neither source using the term knows its origins. I
need to know it's origin for a novel I am hard at work writing--and
would appreciate if someone out there in usage land can shed some light
on the origin of "Skinny Malink.
Thanks,
Bernard Wisser

I am not alone! Thanks. Did you ever find out the origin?

I thought I recognised the name: Skinny Malinky is a Scottish Children's
song. Google for it.

[Don Phillipson]

When I was a kid in the forties my family called me a "skinny malink." .

. . . Did you ever find out the origin?

Skinnamarink was the name of one of the TV series for children
(with a theme song repeating the name) of Canadian performers
Sharon, Lois and Bram approx. 1980-2000, cf.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sharon,_Lois_%26_Bram
--
Don Phillipson
Carlsbad Springs
(Ottawa, Canada)

[Quinn C]

Post by Don Phillipson

When I was a kid in the forties my family called me a "skinny malink." .

. . . Did you ever find out the origin?

Skinnamarink was the name of one of the TV series for children
(with a theme song repeating the name) of Canadian performers
Sharon, Lois and Bram approx. 1980-2000, cf.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sharon,_Lois_%26_Bram

When my son was little, I was exposed to this song in the form
"skidamarink-a-dink-a-dink". Looking it up, the original version
seems to have "skiddy-mer-rink-a-dink-a-boomp", and the others,
including ones starting "skinny", are later variations.

<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skidamarink>

[Peter Moylan]

Post by s***@gmail.com

When I was a kid in the forties my family called me a "skinny malink." I
knew that meant I was underweight. I have looked all over and I can't find
etyology or origin of that label. I can't find the word malink in any
dictionary or encyclopedia. I even looked at a Yiddish dictionary. I have
found to reference to the term on the web so I know I remembered it
correctly and I am spelling right. Unfortunately after corresponding by
e-mail I found neither source using the term knows its origins.
I need to know it's origin for a novel I am hard at work writing--and would
appreciate if someone out there in usage land can shed some light on the
origin of "Skinny Malink.
Thanks,

I am not alone! Thanks. Did you ever find out the origin?

John Davies gave a good answer in 1999, in this very thread. Did you not
read the rest of the thread?

[b***@aol.com]

When I was a kid in the forties my family called me a "skinny malink." I
knew that meant I was underweight. I have looked all over and I can't find
etyology or origin of that label. I can't find the word malink in any
dictionary or encyclopedia. I even looked at a Yiddish dictionary. I have
found to reference to the term on the web so I know I remembered it
correctly and I am spelling right. Unfortunately after corresponding by
e-mail I found neither source using the term knows its origins.
I need to know it's origin for a novel I am hard at work writing--and would
appreciate if someone out there in usage land can shed some light on the
origin of "Skinny Malink.

The similarity may very well be fortuitous, but "malink" reminds me of French "malingre", which means "puny", "sickly" or "frail".

Thanks,
Bernard Wisser

[bill van]

Post by b***@aol.com

When I was a kid in the forties my family called me a "skinny malink." I
knew that meant I was underweight. I have looked all over and I can't find
etyology or origin of that label. I can't find the word malink in any
dictionary or encyclopedia. I even looked at a Yiddish dictionary. I have
found to reference to the term on the web so I know I remembered it
correctly and I am spelling right. Unfortunately after corresponding by
e-mail I found neither source using the term knows its origins.
I need to know it's origin for a novel I am hard at work writing--and would
appreciate if someone out there in usage land can shed some light on the
origin of "Skinny Malink.

The similarity may very well be fortuitous, but "malink" reminds me of French
"malingre", which means "puny", "sickly" or "frail".

Also of "malign(e)", malignant or malevolent, among others.

[Harvey]

Post by bill van

Post by b***@aol.com

When I was a kid in the forties my family called me a "skinny malink." I
knew that meant I was underweight. I have looked all over and I can't find
etyology or origin of that label. I can't find the word malink in any
dictionary or encyclopedia. I even looked at a Yiddish

dictionary. I have

Post by bill van

Post by b***@aol.com

found to reference to the term on the web so I know I

remembered it

Post by bill van

Post by b***@aol.com

correctly and I am spelling right. Unfortunately after

corresponding by

Post by bill van

Post by b***@aol.com

e-mail I found neither source using the term knows its origins.
I need to know it's origin for a novel I am hard at work

writing--and would

Post by bill van

Post by b***@aol.com

appreciate if someone out there in usage land can shed some light on the
origin of "Skinny Malink.

The similarity may very well be fortuitous, but "malink" reminds me of French
"malingre", which means "puny", "sickly" or "frail".

Also of "malign(e)", malignant or malevolent, among others.

Also related to "malingering", I suspect.

[JoeDee]

Post by b***@aol.com

When I was a kid in the forties my family called me a "skinny malink." I
knew that meant I was underweight. I have looked all over and I can't find
etyology or origin of that label. I can't find the word malink in any
dictionary or encyclopedia. I even looked at a Yiddish dictionary. I have
found to reference to the term on the web so I know I remembered it
correctly and I am spelling right. Unfortunately after corresponding by
e-mail I found neither source using the term knows its origins.
I need to know it's origin for a novel I am hard at work writing--and would
appreciate if someone out there in usage land can shed some light on the
origin of "Skinny Malink.

The similarity may very well be fortuitous, but "malink" reminds me of
French "malingre", which means "puny", "sickly" or "frail".

Thanks,
Bernard Wisser

There's also Russian маленький (MAH-linky) meaning small, tiny. "Skinny
malink" was the first thing I thought of when I learned the Russian
word for small.

[occam]

Post by JoeDee

Post by b***@aol.com

When I was a kid in the forties my family called me a "skinny malink." I
knew that meant I was underweight. I have looked all over and I can't find
etyology or origin of that label. I can't find the word malink in any
dictionary or encyclopedia. I even looked at a Yiddish dictionary. I have
found to reference to the term on the web so I know I remembered it
correctly and I am spelling right. Unfortunately after corresponding by
e-mail I found neither source using the term knows its origins.
I need to know it's origin for a novel I am hard at work writing--and would
appreciate if someone out there in usage land can shed some light on the
origin of "Skinny Malink.

The similarity may very well be fortuitous, but "malink" reminds me of
French "malingre", which means "puny", "sickly" or "frail".

Thanks,
Bernard Wisser

There's also Russian маленький (MAH-linky) meaning small, tiny. "Skinny
malink" was the first thing I thought of when I learned the Russian word
for small.

Bingo! Without having seen the original thread, I believe this is the
correct origin of the expression. 'Clockwork Orange' (1962 Anthony
Burgess book - later a film) makes use of Russian word corruptions (e.g
'droog' for friend) throughout the book. The only puzzle that remains,
you say your parents called you this in the 1940s? Did they have Russian
ancestry or have knowledge of Russian?

[charles]

Post by occam

Post by JoeDee

Post by b***@aol.com

When I was a kid in the forties my family called me a "skinny malink." I
knew that meant I was underweight. I have looked all over and I can't find
etyology or origin of that label. I can't find the word malink in any
dictionary or encyclopedia. I even looked at a Yiddish dictionary. I have
found to reference to the term on the web so I know I remembered it
correctly and I am spelling right. Unfortunately after corresponding by
e-mail I found neither source using the term knows its origins.
I need to know it's origin for a novel I am hard at work writing--and would
appreciate if someone out there in usage land can shed some light on the
origin of "Skinny Malink.

The similarity may very well be fortuitous, but "malink" reminds me of
French "malingre", which means "puny", "sickly" or "frail".

Thanks,
Bernard Wisser

There's also Russian маленький (MAH-linky) meaning small, tiny. "Skinny
malink" was the first thing I thought of when I learned the Russian word
for small.

Bingo! Without having seen the original thread, I believe this is the
correct origin of the expression. 'Clockwork Orange' (1962 Anthony
Burgess book - later a film) makes use of Russian word corruptions (e.g
'droog' for friend) throughout the book. The only puzzle that remains,
you say your parents called you this in the 1940s? Did they have Russian
ancestry or have knowledge of Russian?

one of Scottish ancestors was a general for Catherine the Great. It might
explain why there is a Scottish childrens' song/ see wikipedia/

[Peter Moylan]

Post by charles
one of Scottish ancestors was a general for Catherine the Great. It might
explain why there is a Scottish childrens' song/ see wikipedia/

Sounds like an interesting song. I can imagine singing it to the tune of
"God Save the Queen".

See Wikipedia
Happy and speedier
Long to reign greedier ...

[Jack Campin]

["Skinny Malinky Long Legs"]

I can imagine singing it to the tune of "God Save the Queen".
See Wikipedia
Happy and speedier
Long to reign greedier ...

I don't know the tune (I see Matt McGinn has sung it) and have only
met with it as a rhyme - always fitted "Lady Madonna" for me.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
e m a i l : j a c k @ c a m p i n . m e . u k
Jack Campin, 11 Third Street, Newtongrange, Midlothian EH22 4PU, Scotland
mobile [phone] <http://www.campin.me.uk> Twitter: JackCampin

[Snidely]

Post by Jack Campin
["Skinny Malinky Long Legs"]

[attribution should point to Mr Moylan]

Post by Jack Campin

I can imagine singing it to the tune of "God Save the Queen".
See Wikipedia
Happy and speedier
Long to reign greedier ...

I don't know the tune (I see Matt McGinn has sung it) and have only
met with it as a rhyme - always fitted "Lady Madonna" for me.

Just to spoil your day, here's the version used by the aforementioned
Sharon, Lois, and Bram to close their _Elephant Show_, which is the
vehicle that introduced the song (and the artists) to me; it was
available in the US on Nickelodeon when my kids were the appropriate
age.

/dps "One elephant went out to play ... upon a spider's web one day;
he had such enormous fun ... he called for another elephant to come!"

[Snidely]

On Monday or thereabouts, Snidely asked ...

Post by Snidely

Post by Jack Campin
["Skinny Malinky Long Legs"]

[attribution should point to Mr Moylan]

Post by Jack Campin

I can imagine singing it to the tune of "God Save the Queen".
See Wikipedia
Happy and speedier
Long to reign greedier ...

I don't know the tune (I see Matt McGinn has sung it) and have only
met with it as a rhyme - always fitted "Lady Madonna" for me.

Just to spoil your day, here's the version used by the aforementioned Sharon,
Lois, and Bram to close their _Elephant Show_, which is the vehicle that
introduced the song (and the artists) to me; it was available in the US on
Nickelodeon when my kids were the appropriate age.
http://youtu.be/qPdV8jXAjUQ
/dps "One elephant went out to play ... upon a spider's web one day;
he had such enormous fun ... he called for another elephant to come!"

If that didn't send you into a deep decline, here's Rafi:

/dps

[James Hogg]

Post by occam

Post by JoeDee

Post by b***@aol.com

When I was a kid in the forties my family called me a "skinny malink." I
knew that meant I was underweight. I have looked all over and I can't find
etyology or origin of that label. I can't find the word malink in any
dictionary or encyclopedia. I even looked at a Yiddish dictionary. I have
found to reference to the term on the web so I know I remembered it
correctly and I am spelling right. Unfortunately after corresponding by
e-mail I found neither source using the term knows its origins.
I need to know it's origin for a novel I am hard at work writing--and would
appreciate if someone out there in usage land can shed some light on the
origin of "Skinny Malink.

The similarity may very well be fortuitous, but "malink" reminds me of
French "malingre", which means "puny", "sickly" or "frail".

Thanks,
Bernard Wisser

There's also Russian маленький (MAH-linky) meaning small, tiny. "Skinny
malink" was the first thing I thought of when I learned the Russian word
for small.

Bingo! Without having seen the original thread, I believe this is the
correct origin of the expression. 'Clockwork Orange' (1962 Anthony
Burgess book - later a film) makes use of Russian word corruptions (e.g
'droog' for friend) throughout the book. The only puzzle that remains,
you say your parents called you this in the 1940s? Did they have Russian
ancestry or have knowledge of Russian?

It's even older than the 1940s. Eric Partridge has the following in his
slang dictionary :

skilamalink. Secret; 'shady': East London, late C19-early 20.
Origin? RS writes 'In my early youth (ca 1910-1925) I occasionally met
"skinamalink", a derisory noun or nickname for unusually skinny and
undersized individuals... its form is app. based on skilamalink, but its
meaning is that of skilligareen.

[Robert Bannister]

Post by b***@aol.com

When I was a kid in the forties my family called me a "skinny
malink." I knew that meant I was underweight. I have looked all
over and I can't find etyology or origin of that label. I can't
find the word malink in any dictionary or encyclopedia. I even
looked at a Yiddish dictionary. I have found to reference to the
term on the web so I know I remembered it correctly and I am
spelling right. Unfortunately after corresponding by e-mail I found
neither source using the term knows its origins. I need to know
it's origin for a novel I am hard at work writing--and would
appreciate if someone out there in usage land can shed some light
on the origin of "Skinny Malink.

The similarity may very well be fortuitous, but "malink" reminds me
of French "malingre", which means "puny", "sickly" or "frail".

And yet "malinka" in many languages is thriving raspberry.

[the Omrud]

Post by s***@gmail.com

When I was a kid in the forties my family called me a "skinny malink." I
knew that meant I was underweight. I have looked all over and I can't find
etyology or origin of that label. I can't find the word malink in any
dictionary or encyclopedia. I even looked at a Yiddish dictionary. I have
found to reference to the term on the web so I know I remembered it
correctly and I am spelling right. Unfortunately after corresponding by
e-mail I found neither source using the term knows its origins.
I need to know it's origin for a novel I am hard at work writing--and would
appreciate if someone out there in usage land can shed some light on the
origin of "Skinny Malink.

I am not alone! Thanks. Did you ever find out the origin?

This can't be relevant to your naming, but it may have a common cause:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Slinky-Malinki-Lynley-Dodd/dp/0140544399

[t***@gmail.com]

My father had a rhyme he would recite; he grew up in what we would now call
a multi-cultural neighborhood in upstate New York, but where he heard it and
from whom I know not.
"Skinny Malink the barber/
went to shave his father/
the razor slipped, and cut his lip/
and that was the end of the barber."
"BAHbah" and "FAHthah" were stressed and were made to rhyme.

Here I am, replying to a 19 year old post (you still here, Mike?). My mother used to sing-song that, but the ending was, "and that was the end of Skinny Malink the barber!". Weird that there's not a pinpoint of where such a thing came from? She was born in NJ in 1918, btw. I'm from FL, now living in Australia!

Cheers!

[bill van]

Post by t***@gmail.com

My father had a rhyme he would recite; he grew up in what we would now call
a multi-cultural neighborhood in upstate New York, but where he heard it and
from whom I know not.
"Skinny Malink the barber/
went to shave his father/
the razor slipped, and cut his lip/
and that was the end of the barber."
"BAHbah" and "FAHthah" were stressed and were made to rhyme.

Here I am, replying to a 19 year old post (you still here, Mike?). My
mother used to sing-song that, but the ending was, "and that was the
end of Skinny Malink the barber!". Weird that there's not a pinpoint of
where such a thing came from? She was born in NJ in 1918, btw. I'm from
FL, now living in Australia!

The New York Times, in 1994, took it back to the late 19th century.
(excerpt below)

It appears to be broadly spread through English-language children's culture,
with origins claimed for Ireland, Scotland, England, Canada and the U.S.

Adding to the mystery, there are many spellings including Skinny
Malink, Skinny Merink, Skinnamarink, etc.

Here's the NYT excerpt, which appears to claim there is a single point source:

Skinny Marink
"While reading 'After All These Years' by Susan Isaacs," writes Steven
Zalben of Sands Point, L.I., "I came across 'Who's that skinny marink .
. .?' Where does it come from?"
From skinny malink, in a comic song on the London stage around 1870.
The Scottish National Dictionary has skinnymalink(ie), for an emaciated
person or animal. Joan Hall of the Dictionary of American Regional
English, thinks it is rooted in skinny as the links of a crook, the
chain and hook that hold a pot over a fire. "The ma- is probably an
infix," she tells me, "a rhythmic syllable added to make the phrase
more euphonious."
In 1924, Eddie Cantor popularized the song "Skin-a-Ma-Rink," written by
Al Dubin, Jimmy McHugh and Irving Mills.
end excerpt from:

https://www.nytimes.com/1994/07/10/magazine/on-langauge-now-overhear-this.html

But that's the only part of the column that's on topic for this thread.

I gave it five or ten minutes of searching and didn't find anything
definitive, but it could easily be out there.

If you're interested, I recommend googling on the various spellings and
seeing if anyone has collected
all the Skinny Malink etc. lore. Could be an interesting tour of
children's culture.

bill

[Mark Brader]

Post by bill van

Post by t***@gmail.com

My father had a rhyme he would recite; he grew up in what we would now call
a multi-cultural neighborhood in upstate New York, but where he heard it and
from whom I know not.
"Skinny Malink the barber/
went to shave his father/
the razor slipped, and cut his lip/
and that was the end of the barber."

Here I am, replying to a 19 year old post (you still here, Mike?). My
mother used to sing-song that, but the ending was, "and that was the
end of Skinny Malink the barber!"...

The New York Times, in 1994, took it back to the late 19th century.

...

Post by bill van
From skinny malink, in a comic song on the London stage around 1870.

What that instantly made me think of was the children's song
"Skinnamarink" performed by the Canadian group Sharon, Lois & Bram.
Wikipedia has an article under the title "Skidamarink" that also claim
a single point source, but that article makes the source a 1910 Broadway
production.

Not surprisingly, there's nothing about barbers and razors in the 1910
lyrics given in Wikipedia, nor in the "official" Sharon, Lois & Bram
lyrics as given here:

http://www.paroles-musique.com/eng/Sharon_Lois_and_Bram-Skinnamarink_Live-lyrics,p060105326

[bill van]

Post by Mark Brader

Post by bill van

Post by t***@gmail.com

My father had a rhyme he would recite; he grew up in what we would now call
a multi-cultural neighborhood in upstate New York, but where he heard it and
from whom I know not.
"Skinny Malink the barber/
went to shave his father/
the razor slipped, and cut his lip/
and that was the end of the barber."

Here I am, replying to a 19 year old post (you still here, Mike?). My
mother used to sing-song that, but the ending was, "and that was the
end of Skinny Malink the barber!"...

The New York Times, in 1994, took it back to the late 19th century.

...

Post by bill van
From skinny malink, in a comic song on the London stage around 1870.

What that instantly made me think of was the children's song
"Skinnamarink" performed by the Canadian group Sharon, Lois & Bram.
Wikipedia has an article under the title "Skidamarink" that also claim
a single point source, but that article makes the source a 1910 Broadway
production.

Yes, Sharon, Lois and Bram were featured in my search results. They mined
music for children, found a vein that's now roughly 150 years old, and produced
their own version. It's lovely how some musicians pay attention to traditions,
and look for ways to pass them on.

Post by Mark Brader
Not surprisingly, there's nothing about barbers and razors in the 1910
lyrics given in Wikipedia, nor in the "official" Sharon, Lois & Bram
http://www.paroles-musique.com/eng/Sharon_Lois_and_Bram-Skinnamarink_Live-lyrics,p060105326

They were performers first and foremost. They found material that would
fit into their repertoire,
massaged it and showed it to a new audience. I wasn't in their target
audience, but I was sideswiped
by just enough of their stuff to be able to write this paragraph.

bill

[g***@gmail.com]

Yes, my mom, born in 1914, used to say that rhyme, but it sounded like skinny bolinky to me. She was a 1st gen American,both parents from Yugislavia, living in a Slovenian neighborhood.

[Joseph C. Fineman]

Post by g***@gmail.com
Yes, my mom, born in 1914, used to say that rhyme, but it sounded like
skinny bolinky to me. She was a 1st gen American,both parents from
Yugislavia, living in a Slovenian neighborhood.

My mom, born in 1908, made it "Skinnamarinkydinkydink". (I am only
imagining how she might have spelled it.)

[Peter T. Daniels]

Post by Joseph C. Fineman

Post by g***@gmail.com
Yes, my mom, born in 1914, used to say that rhyme, but it sounded like
skinny bolinky to me. She was a 1st gen American,both parents from
Yugislavia, living in a Slovenian neighborhood.

My mom, born in 1908, made it "Skinnamarinkydinkydink". (I am only
imagining how she might have spelled it.)

Ahh, it was a more leisurely age ... 8 syllables!

[CDB]

Post by Joseph C. Fineman

Post by g***@gmail.com
Yes, my mom, born in 1914, used to say that rhyme, but it sounded
like skinny bolinky to me. She was a 1st gen American,both parents
from Yugislavia, living in a Slovenian neighborhood.

My mom, born in 1908, made it "Skinnamarinkydinkydink". (I am only
imagining how she might have spelled it.)

Sharon, Lois, and Bram used to go on about it.

http://youtu.be/qPdV8jXAjUQ

[Joseph C. Fineman]

Post by CDB

Post by Joseph C. Fineman

Post by g***@gmail.com
Yes, my mom, born in 1914, used to say that rhyme, but it sounded
like skinny bolinky to me. She was a 1st gen American,both parents
from Yugislavia, living in a Slovenian neighborhood.

My mom, born in 1908, made it "Skinnamarinkydinkydink". (I am only
imagining how she might have spelled it.)

Sharon, Lois, and Bram used to go on about it.
http://youtu.be/qPdV8jXAjUQ

That's my mother's tune, near enough. But she made it

I love you in the morning and I love you in the night,
I love you when I'm with you and I love you out of sight.

[John Varela]

Post by CDB

Post by Joseph C. Fineman

Post by g***@gmail.com
Yes, my mom, born in 1914, used to say that rhyme, but it sounded
like skinny bolinky to me. She was a 1st gen American,both parents
from Yugislavia, living in a Slovenian neighborhood.

My mom, born in 1908, made it "Skinnamarinkydinkydink". (I am only
imagining how she might have spelled it.)

Sharon, Lois, and Bram used to go on about it.
http://youtu.be/qPdV8jXAjUQ

I know I've got a different version of that somewhere in my iTunes
library but I'm damned if I know what group sang it or what the
title is. If I find it I'll let you know.

[soup]

Post by g***@gmail.com
Yes, my mom, born in 1914, used to say that rhyme, but it sounded like skinny bolinky to me. She was a 1st gen American,both parents from Yugislavia, living in a Slovenian neighborhood.

I have only ever heard it with a Y at the end perhaps that is why you
remember it as bolinky.


Skinny Malink'Y' long legs umbrella feet
went to the pictures couldnae find a seat
When the picture started Skinny Malink'Y' farted
Skinny Malink'Y' long legs umbrella feet


Oh we were so couth at six, seven or so.

[Steve Hayes]

Post by g***@gmail.com
Yes, my mom, born in 1914, used to say that rhyme, but it sounded like
skinny bolinky to me. She was a 1st gen American,both parents from
Yugislavia, living in a Slovenian neighborhood.

We used to say it at school in Magaliesberg, South Africa, in the 1950s

Skinny malinky long legs
Big banana feet
Went to the bioscope
And fell through the seat.

What version do you know?

[b***@gmail.com]

I was just talking to my husband about a friend’s son who is tall and thin. I said “Oh, what my grandmother used to refer to as a ‘Skinny Malink’ - he’d never heard of it. BTW I grew ip in Wales and my Nana was born in 1900. Haven’t got a clue! But I love it.

[Peter Duncanson [BrE]]

Post by b***@gmail.com
I was just talking to my husband about a friend’s son who is tall and thin. I said “Oh, what my grandmother used to refer to as a ‘Skinny Malink’ - he’d never heard of it. BTW I grew ip in Wales and my Nana was born in 1900. Haven’t got a clue! But I love it.

The OED has it as:

skinnymalink, n.

colloquial and regional.

A (humorously) depreciative name for: a skinny person or
occasionally animal.

1870 Punchinello 2 27 I had sent too many of such skinamelinks
to the clay banks when I was Gustise of the Peece to allow 'em to
fool me much.
1892 Brechin Advertiser 6 Sept. 3 Twa skinamalinks o' the genus
horse.
....
1979 L. Derwent Border Bairn vi. 71 A skinnymalink of a laddie
with holes in his stockings.
...
2000 Independent 17 Feb. ii. 4/2 The muscle-bound,
massive-thighed brutes have gone. Footballers are now
skinnymalinks.

It lists 12 different spellings.

There is also:

skinny-malinky, adj. and n.

[Mark Wernick]

I see I'm a few years late in this discussion. Better late than never? Here's another variation on this theme.

When I was a little (and very skinny) kid, my father repeated this jingle to me a number of times:

Skinny Balink the barber
Went to shave his father
The razor slipped
And cut his lip
Skinny Balink the barber

In retrospect, sounds a bit Oedipal. My father was born in 1920 in Bayonne, New Jersey. I can't say for sure where he learned the jingle, but I thought he told me his father said it to him. His father, born probably in the early 1890s, was a Jewish immigrant from western Belarus, arriving through Ellis Island in 1910.

That jingle or variations of it clearly was making the rounds in the northeastern U.S. in the early 20th century. I allow for the possibility that the "correct" word is 'malink', and not 'Balink', and was misheard by either my father or myself.

Mark Wernick
Houston, TX

Post by Peter Duncanson [BrE]

I was just talking to my husband about a friend’s son who is tall and thin. I said “Oh, what my grandmother used to refer to as a ‘Skinny Malink’ - he’d never heard of it. BTW I grew ip in Wales and my Nana was born in 1900. Haven’t got a clue! But I love it.

skinnymalink, n.
colloquial and regional.
A (humorously) depreciative name for: a skinny person or
occasionally animal.
1870 Punchinello 2 27 I had sent too many of such skinamelinks
to the clay banks when I was Gustise of the Peece to allow 'em to
fool me much.
1892 Brechin Advertiser 6 Sept. 3 Twa skinamalinks o' the genus
horse.
....
1979 L. Derwent Border Bairn vi. 71 A skinnymalink of a laddie
with holes in his stockings.
...
2000 Independent 17 Feb. ii. 4/2 The muscle-bound,
massive-thighed brutes have gone. Footballers are now
skinnymalinks.
It lists 12 different spellings.
skinny-malinky, adj. and n.
--
Peter Duncanson, UK
(in alt.usage.english)

[Tracy LF]

Post by Mark Wernick
I see I'm a few years late in this discussion. Better late than never? Here's another variation on this theme.
Skinny Balink the barber
Went to shave his father
The razor slipped
And cut his lip
Skinny Balink the barber
In retrospect, sounds a bit Oedipal. My father was born in 1920 in Bayonne, New Jersey. I can't say for sure where he learned the jingle, but I thought he told me his father said it to him. His father, born probably in the early 1890s, was a Jewish immigrant from western Belarus, arriving through Ellis Island in 1910.
That jingle or variations of it clearly was making the rounds in the northeastern U.S. in the early 20th century. I allow for the possibility that the "correct" word is 'malink', and not 'Balink', and was misheard by either my father or myself.
Mark Wernick
Houston, TX

________________________

Hi Mark!

My mother's Kearny NJ version was:

Skinny Malink the barber
Went to shave his father
The razor slipped
And cut his lip
And that was the end
of Skinny Malink the barber!

_______________________________

Post by Mark Wernick

Post by Peter Duncanson [BrE]

I was just talking to my husband about a friend’s son who is tall and thin. I said “Oh, what my grandmother used to refer to as a ‘Skinny Malink’ - he’d never heard of it. BTW I grew ip in Wales and my Nana was born in 1900. Haven’t got a clue! But I love it.

skinnymalink, n.
colloquial and regional.
A (humorously) depreciative name for: a skinny person or
occasionally animal.
1870 Punchinello 2 27 I had sent too many of such skinamelinks
to the clay banks when I was Gustise of the Peece to allow 'em to
fool me much.
1892 Brechin Advertiser 6 Sept. 3 Twa skinamalinks o' the genus
horse.
....
1979 L. Derwent Border Bairn vi. 71 A skinnymalink of a laddie
with holes in his stockings.
...
2000 Independent 17 Feb. ii. 4/2 The muscle-bound,
massive-thighed brutes have gone. Footballers are now
skinnymalinks.
It lists 12 different spellings.
skinny-malinky, adj. and n.
--
Peter Duncanson, UK
(in alt.usage.english)

[Peter T. Daniels]

Post by Tracy LF

Post by Mark Wernick
I see I'm a few years late in this discussion. Better late than never? Here's another variation on this theme.
Skinny Balink the barber
Went to shave his father
The razor slipped
And cut his lip
Skinny Balink the barber
In retrospect, sounds a bit Oedipal. My father was born in 1920 in Bayonne, New Jersey. I can't say for sure where he learned the jingle, but I thought he told me his father said it to him. His father, born probably in the early 1890s, was a Jewish immigrant from western Belarus, arriving through Ellis Island in 1910.
That jingle or variations of it clearly was making the rounds in the northeastern U.S. in the early 20th century. I allow for the possibility that the "correct" word is 'malink', and not 'Balink', and was misheard by either my father or myself.
Mark Wernick
Houston, TX

________________________
Hi Mark!
Skinny Malink the barber
Went to shave his father
The razor slipped
And cut his lip
And that was the end
of Skinny Malink the barber!
_______________________________

That Jersey ditty didn't make it across the River to NYC (or its
northern suburbs) -- neither my father b. 1917 Mamaroneck nor
my mother b. 1918 Bronx repeated it to me, nor did I hear it in
school.

[bruce bowser]

Post by Peter T. Daniels

Post by Tracy LF

Post by Mark Wernick
I see I'm a few years late in this discussion. Better late than never? Here's another variation on this theme.
Skinny Balink the barber
Went to shave his father
The razor slipped
And cut his lip
Skinny Balink the barber
In retrospect, sounds a bit Oedipal. My father was born in 1920 in Bayonne, New Jersey. I can't say for sure where he learned the jingle, but I thought he told me his father said it to him. His father, born probably in the early 1890s, was a Jewish immigrant from western Belarus, arriving through Ellis Island in 1910.
That jingle or variations of it clearly was making the rounds in the northeastern U.S. in the early 20th century. I allow for the possibility that the "correct" word is 'malink', and not 'Balink', and was misheard by either my father or myself.
Mark Wernick
Houston, TX

________________________
Hi Mark!
Skinny Malink the barber
Went to shave his father
The razor slipped
And cut his lip
And that was the end
of Skinny Malink the barber!
_______________________________

That Jersey ditty didn't make it across the River to NYC (or its
northern suburbs) -- neither my father b. 1917 Mamaroneck nor
my mother b. 1918 Bronx repeated it to me, nor did I hear it in
school.

Mamaroneck? How the heck do you pronounce that name?

[Peter T. Daniels]

Post by Peter T. Daniels

Post by Mark Wernick
Skinny Balink the barber
Went to shave his father
The razor slipped
And cut his lip
Skinny Balink the barber
In retrospect, sounds a bit Oedipal. My father was born in 1920 in Bayonne, New Jersey. I can't say for sure where he learned the jingle, but I thought he told me his father said it to him. His father, born probably in the early 1890s, was a Jewish immigrant from western Belarus, arriving through Ellis Island in 1910.

Skinny Malink the barber
Went to shave his father
The razor slipped
And cut his lip
And that was the end
of Skinny Malink the barber!

That Jersey ditty didn't make it across the River to NYC (or its
northern suburbs) -- neither my father b. 1917 Mamaroneck nor
my mother b. 1918 Bronx repeated it to me, nor did I hear it in
school.

Mamaroneck? How the heck do you pronounce that name?

As it's spelled. (The stress is on the second syllable.)

As is shown in its Wikiparticle.

[David Kleinecke]

Post by Peter T. Daniels

Post by Mark Wernick
Skinny Balink the barber
Went to shave his father
The razor slipped
And cut his lip
Skinny Balink the barber
In retrospect, sounds a bit Oedipal. My father was born in 1920 in Bayonne, New Jersey. I can't say for sure where he learned the jingle, but I thought he told me his father said it to him. His father, born probably in the early 1890s, was a Jewish immigrant from western Belarus, arriving through Ellis Island in 1910.

Skinny Malink the barber
Went to shave his father
The razor slipped
And cut his lip
And that was the end
of Skinny Malink the barber!

That Jersey ditty didn't make it across the River to NYC (or its
northern suburbs) -- neither my father b. 1917 Mamaroneck nor
my mother b. 1918 Bronx repeated it to me, nor did I hear it in
school.

I would guess these are jump rope songs. Jump rope songs can be the
fashion in very small neighborhoods.

From my youth;
Charlie Chaplin went to France
To teach the children how to dance
and I have heard real children voluntarily singing the London Bridge song.

[TonyCooper]

On Sun, 14 May 2023 16:38:57 -0700 (PDT), David Kleinecke

Post by David Kleinecke

Post by Peter T. Daniels

Post by Mark Wernick
Skinny Balink the barber
Went to shave his father
The razor slipped
And cut his lip
Skinny Balink the barber
In retrospect, sounds a bit Oedipal. My father was born in 1920 in Bayonne, New Jersey. I can't say for sure where he learned the jingle, but I thought he told me his father said it to him. His father, born probably in the early 1890s, was a Jewish immigrant from western Belarus, arriving through Ellis Island in 1910.

Skinny Malink the barber
Went to shave his father
The razor slipped
And cut his lip
And that was the end
of Skinny Malink the barber!

That Jersey ditty didn't make it across the River to NYC (or its
northern suburbs) -- neither my father b. 1917 Mamaroneck nor
my mother b. 1918 Bronx repeated it to me, nor did I hear it in
school.

I would guess these are jump rope songs. Jump rope songs can be the
fashion in very small neighborhoods.
From my youth;
Charlie Chaplin went to France
To teach the children how to dance
and I have heard real children voluntarily singing the London Bridge song.

The first time we took our children to Denmark, our daughter joined
some Danish girls who were playing jumprope. The girls were singing
something in Danish, and our daughter joined in, but in English. Her
words fit the song although she had no idea if it was the same song
she was used to.

[Paul Carmichael]

Post by Mark Wernick
I see I'm a few years late in this discussion. Better late than never?
Here's another variation on this theme.
When I was a little (and very skinny) kid, my father repeated this
Skinny Balink the barber Went to shave his father The razor slipped And
cut his lip Skinny Balink the barber

"Aaav gad a gurl carld Boney Maroney,
She's as skinny as a stick of macaroni..."

Classic lyrics.

[JNugent]

Post by Paul Carmichael

Post by Mark Wernick
I see I'm a few years late in this discussion. Better late than never?
Here's another variation on this theme.
When I was a little (and very skinny) kid, my father repeated this
Skinny Balink the barber Went to shave his father The razor slipped And
cut his lip Skinny Balink the barber

"Aaav gad a gurl carld Boney Maroney,
She's as skinny as a stick of macaroni..."
Classic lyrics.

The epithet "Skinny Malink" (however spelled) was certainly known in the
Liverpool (England) of my childhood.

Not necessarily in connection with any rhyme, but merely as a
description of someone with a slight build.

[Stan Godlewski]

My father had a rhyme he would recite; he grew up in what we would now call
a multi-cultural neighborhood in upstate New York, but where he heard it and
from whom I know not.
"Skinny Malink the barber/
went to shave his father/
the razor slipped, and cut his lip/
and that was the end of the barber."
"BAHbah" and "FAHthah" were stressed and were made to rhyme.

[Stan Godlewski]

My father would sing that song to me as well, back in the 1960s.

My father had a rhyme he would recite; he grew up in what we would now call
a multi-cultural neighborhood in upstate New York, but where he heard it and
from whom I know not.
"Skinny Malink the barber/
went to shave his father/
the razor slipped, and cut his lip/
and that was the end of the barber."
"BAHbah" and "FAHthah" were stressed and were made to rhyme.