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chink

noun
/t͡ʃɪŋk/UK

Etymology

There are several possible origins of the term: * From the Chinese courtesy ching-ching, a reduplication of Mandarin 請 /请 (qǐng, “please”). Compare chin-chin, Italian cincin, Portuguese tchim-tchim, tim-tim, Spanish chinchín, French tchin-tchin. * From the alteration of China. * From the alteration of Qing (also spelled Ch'ing). See also Hokkien 親家 /亲家 (chhin-ke, “any relative by marriage (to a Chinese family)”).

  1. inherited from ċine — “a crack, chine, chink”
  2. inherited from chine

Definitions

  1. A narrow opening such as a fissure or crack.

    • What a pity they didn’t stop up the chinks and the crannies though, and thrust in a little lint here and there.
    • Yet I did not give way, but settled to wait for the dawn, which must, I knew, be now at hand; for then I thought enough light would come through the chinks of the tomb above to show me how to set to work.
    • Through one cloudless chink, in a black, stormy sky, / Shines out the dewy morning star.

  2. A chip or dent in something metallic.

    • The warrior saw a chink in her enemy's armor, and aimed her spear accordingly.

  3. A vulnerability or flaw in a protection system or in any otherwise formidable system.

    • The chink in the theory is that the invaders have superior muskets.
    • The first chink in Arsenal's relaxed afternoon occurred when key midfielder Samir Nasri pulled up with a hamstring injury and was replaced.
  4. ›+ 14 more definitions

    1. To fill an opening such as the space between logs in a log house with chinking

      To fill an opening such as the space between logs in a log house with chinking; to caulk.

      • to chink a wall

    2. To crack

      To crack; to open.

    3. To cause to open in cracks or fissures.

    4. A slight sound as of metal objects touching each other

      A slight sound as of metal objects touching each other; a clink.

      • She swallow, set the cup down like she want to break it, and the ice-blocks jump, make a chink sound.

    5. Ready money, especially in the form of coins.

      • to leave his chink to better hands
      • I thought that if all the hills about there were pure chink, and all belonged to me, I would give them if I could just talk to her when I wanted to […]

    6. To make a slight sound like that of metal objects touching.

      • The coins were chinking in his pocket.

    7. To cause to make a sharp metallic sound, as coins, small pieces of metal, etc., by…

      To cause to make a sharp metallic sound, as coins, small pieces of metal, etc., by bringing them into collision with each other.

      • He chinks his purse

    8. Alternative form of kink (“gasp for breath”).

    9. Alternative letter-case form of Chink.

    10. A person of perceived Chinese ethnicity or descent.

      • [Ignatz Mouse:] A new Chink in town, and acting mighty queer too – I suspect foul play.
      • He scratched his head. "Well, damn me," said he. "I never thought I would take orders from a Chink, but he says 'hist!' and by crums you've got to hist and no back talk either."

    11. A person of perceived East Asian descent.

    12. A meal of Chinese food.

      • Let's order some Chink. Where's that menu? I think we've got the stuff we usually order circled. I'm starved!

    13. Chinese, or perceived to be Chinese.

    14. East Asian.

The neighborhood

Derived

chink in the armor, chink in the armour, chinkle, chinky, chink up, chink-a-chink, chink cough

Vish — recursive loop

No curated loop yet for chink. Loops are being traced one word at a time while the ingestion pipeline matures.

sense glosses and etymology drawn from English Wiktionary · source · CC-BY-SA