"Pinking" is British for "pinging".

Diesel engines can certainly nail, which sounds similar. Nailing seems to occur when combustion is incomplete, so some burning continues in the exhuast manifold. More likely with low cetane fuels, or running a very cold engine. My old 300CD would nail a bit until it was warmed up. And my 190D had some nailing until I had a couple of bad valve seats replaced.

You can also get preignition in a diesel engine if you use an inappropriate fuel, like gasoline. Just like in a gasoline motor, it is very damaging.