hinky

the origins of 'hinky' are obscure but point to early 20th-century american slang. one plausible path connects it to the word 'hink', itself of unknown origin, which meant suspicion or a feeling that something is wrong. another thread links it to 'hincty', a term from african-american vernacular in the 1920s meaning overly particular or pretentious, which may have blended with 'hink'. from these roots, 'hinky' emerged in police and underworld jargon by the mid-1900s, carrying the primary modern sense of something that seems suspicious or not quite right. its secondary meaning of feeling nervous or jittery logically extends from the state of being suspicious or uneasy.

this word is considered a simplex form. it is likely an american english slang formation of uncertain origin, possibly related to the older slang term 'hink' meaning suspicion or fear, or influenced by 'hincty', an early 20th-century african-american vernacular term meaning snobbish or putting on airs.