inky-dinky

English

Pronunciation

• Rhymes: -ɪŋki

Etymology 1

(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium. Particularly: “Some sources say it's from "incandescent" and "dinky" i.e. small.”)

Noun

inky-dinky (plural inky-dinkies)

1. (television, film) A small key light.
   • 2013, Dennis Schaefer, Larry Salvato, Masters of Light, page 323:

     You know you cannot get smaller lights than inky-dinkies but when you push one stop, you can use an inky-dinky for key lighting.

   • 2015, Harriet Margolis, Alexis Krasilovsky, Julia Stein, Shooting Women: Behind the Camera, Around the World, page 151:

     A regular package here would give you six pieces of 1K tungsten lights, ten pieces of inky-dinkies, one HMI if you're lucky.

Etymology 2

Adjective

inky-dinky (comparative more inky-dinky, superlative most inky-dinky)

1. (childish) Very small; minuscule.

   Synonym: itsy-bitsy