Commonly used to define members of the Irish travelling community. The previous definition cites the use of 'tinker' in this context as ignorant. Maybe he/she is a tinker (in the metalwork sense of the word) and does not like his traditional profession to be used in such a manner. I would like to add that Irish travellers traditionally were very
improvising metal workers and sold pots made of
scrap metal to make a living (as opposed to topping trees badly and laying poor quality tarmacam like they do now).This is the long-standing origin of the association of Irish travellers with the word 'tinker'. They are
tinkers. Hence the phrase, ' Any scrap copper there boss'.
There was war at that
tinker's funeral in Balinasloe there last week- all the
pubs and shops were closed for the week