The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Silversides \Sil"ver*sides`\, n. (Zool.)
   Any one of several species of small fishes of the family
   Atherinidae, having a silvery stripe along each side of the
   body. The common species of the American coast (Menidia
   notata) is very abundant. Called also silverside, sand
   smelt, friar, tailor, and tinker.
   [1913 Webster]

   Brook silversides (Zool.), a small fresh-water North
      American fish (Labadesthes sicculus) related to the
      marine silversides.
      [1913 Webster]

The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Tinker \Tink"er\, n. [From Tink, because the tinker's way of
   proclaiming his trade is to beat a kettle, or because in his
   work he makes a tinkling noise. Johnson.]
   1. A mender of brass kettles, pans, and other metal ware.
      "Tailors and tinkers." --Piers Plowman.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. One skilled in a variety of small mechanical work.
      [1913 Webster]

   3. (Ordnance) A small mortar on the end of a staff.
      [1913 Webster]

   4. (Zool.)
      (a) A young mackerel about two years old.
      (b) The chub mackerel.
      (c) The silversides.
      (d) A skate. [Prov. Eng.]
          [1913 Webster]

   5. (Zool.) The razor-billed auk.
      [1913 Webster]

The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Tinker \Tink"er\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Tinkered; p. pr. & vb.
   n. Tinkering.]
   To mend or solder, as metal wares; hence, more generally, to
   mend.
   [1913 Webster]

The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Tinker \Tink"er\, v. i.
   To busy one's self in mending old kettles, pans, etc.; to
   play the tinker; to be occupied with small mechanical works.
   [1913 Webster]

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):

tinker
    n 1: a person who enjoys fixing and experimenting with machines
         and their parts [syn: tinker, tinkerer]
    2: formerly a person (traditionally a Gypsy) who traveled from
       place to place mending pots and kettles and other metal
       utensils as a way to earn a living
    3: small mackerel found nearly worldwide [syn: chub mackerel,
       tinker, Scomber japonicus]
    v 1: do random, unplanned work or activities or spend time idly;
         "The old lady is usually mucking about in her little house"
         [syn: putter, mess around, potter, tinker,
         monkey, monkey around, muck about, muck around]
    2: work as a tinker or tinkerer
    3: try to fix or mend; "Can you tinker with the T.V. set--it's
       not working right"; "She always fiddles with her van on the
       weekend" [syn: tinker, fiddle]

Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0:

76 Moby Thesaurus words for "tinker":
   cobble, cobbler, commission, condition, coquet, dabble, dally,
   darn, do up, doctor, doodle, fiddle, fiddle with, fiddle-faddle,
   fidget with, finger with, fix, fix up, fixer, flirt, fool,
   fool around, fool with, fribble, frivol, horse around, idle,
   jerk off, kid around, little Miss Fixit, loiter, maintenance man,
   mechanic, mechanician, meddle, mend, mender, mess, mess around,
   monkey, monkey around, overhaul, patch, patch up, piddle, play,
   play around, play with, potter, puddle, put in commission,
   put in order, put in repair, put in shape, putter, ready, recap,
   recondition, renovator, repair, repairer, repairman, restorer,
   retread, service, serviceman, set to rights, sew up, smatter,
   tinker up, toy, toy with, trifle, trouble man, troubleshooter,
   twiddle