tinker
Itinerant metalware repairer
A tinker is an itinerant mender of pots, pans, and other metal household items—a trade now nearly vanished.
The word survives mainly in the verb: to tinker is to make small adjustments or repairs, often amateur or experimental: He tinkered with the engine all afternoon.
To tinker with something can suggest aimless fiddling rather than serious work: Congress keeps tinkering with the tax code.
Adjust restlessly; folk violin
- dabbleEngage superficially
- experimentSystematic investigation procedure
- trial-and-errorSolving by successive approximation
- prototypeFirst functional specimen
test · iterate · tweak · probe · explore · curiosity · play · putter
Minor adjustment
- fine-tuneAdjust for optimal performance
- calibrateAdjust for accuracy
- adjustChange to fit better
- fiddleAdjust restlessly; folk violin
modify · tune · align · optimize · configure · trim · correct · balance
Repair or solution
- mendRestore after damage
- patchMaterial covering damage
- solderFusible bonding alloy
- rewireReplace electrical connections
restore · dismantle · reassemble · diagnose · troubleshoot · wrench · toolbox · workshop
fiddle
Adjust restlessly; folk violin
- dabbleEngage superficially
- experimentSystematic investigation procedure
- trial-and-errorSolving by successive approximation
prototype · test · iterate · tweak · probe · explore · curiosity · play · putter · twiddle
tweak
Minor adjustment
fiddle · modify · tune · align · optimize · configure · trim · correct · balance · regulate
fix
Repair or solution
rewire · restore · dismantle · reassemble · diagnose · troubleshoot · wrench · toolbox · workshop · broken
jury-rig
Improvise temporary repair
MacGyver · make-do · bodge · improvise · scrounge · contrive · resourceful · ingenuity · makeshift · patchwork
artisan
Skilled manual tradesperson
- craftSkilled manual art
- handmadeCreated manually, not mechanically
- workmanshipSkill in creating objects
handiwork · metalwork · woodwork · clockwork · whittling · smithing · trade · skill · journeyman · itinerant
- hobbiesknitting circles, skateboarding, model trains, write, writing
- craftspeoplepotter, weaver, blacksmith, artisan, potters
- Old Jobsblacksmith, farrier, wheelwright, chandler, apothecary
- old occupationsblacksmith, carpenter, miller, farmer, shepherd
- old tradesblacksmith, blacksmithing, cooper, carpentry, cobbler
- traveling workersseasonal laborer, traveling salesman, traveling nurse, journeyman, roadie
tinkermaster craftsman
Expert in skilled trade
expert · professional · specialist · artisan · virtuoso
- Tinker BellMagical tiny flying companion
- tinker with
- tinker toysWooden building toy system
- tinker's damnWorthless amount or thing
- tinker tailorPair of traditional trades
- tinker, tailorItinerant mender and seamster
tinkering, tinkered, tinkerer, tinkers, tinkerers, tinkerings