Pinking \Pink"ing\, n. 1. The act of piercing or stabbing. 2. The act or method of decorating fabrics or garments with a pinking iron; also, the style of decoration; scallops made with a pinking iron. {Pinking iron}. (a) An instrument for scalloping the edges of ribbons, flounces, etc. (b) A sword. [Colloq.]