chink

• (UK, US) IPA^(key): /tʃɪŋk/
• Rhymes: -ɪŋk

Of uncertain origin; but apparently an extension (with formative -k) of Middle English chine, from Old English ċine (“a crack, chine, chink”), equivalent to chine +‎ -k.

Alternatively, the -k may represent an earlier unrecorded diminutive, perhaps from Middle English *chinek, making it equivalent to chine +‎ -ock (diminutive ending).

chink (plural chinks)

1. A narrow opening such as a fissure or crack.
   • 1898, J. Meade Falkner, Moonfleet Chapter 4

     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.

   • 1842 Thomas Babington Macaulay, Lays of Ancient Rome

     Through one cloudless chink, in a black, stormy sky, / Shines out the dewy morning star.

2. A chip or dent (in something metallic).
3. (figuratively) A vulnerability or flaw in a protection system or in any otherwise formidable system.
   • The warrior saw a chink in her enemy's armor, and aimed her spear accordingly.
   • The chink in the theory is that the invaders have superior muskets.
   • 2011 January 30, Kevin Darling, “Arsenal 2 - 1 Huddersfield”, in BBC‎:

     The first chink in Arsenal's relaxed afternoon occurred when key midfielder Samir Nasri pulled up with a hamstring injury and was replaced.

chink (third-person singular simple present chinks, present participle chinking, simple past and past participle chinked)

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

   to chink a wall

2. (intransitive) To crack; to open.
3. (transitive) To cause to open in cracks or fissures.

Onomatopoeic.

chink (plural chinks)

1. A slight sound as of metal objects touching each other; a clink.
2. (colloquial, now rare) Ready money, especially in the form of coins.
   • 1834, David Crockett, A Narrative of the Life of, Nebraska 1987, pp. 47-8:

     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 […]

   • Somerville

     to leave his chink to better hands

chink (third-person singular simple present chinks, present participle chinking, simple past and past participle chinked)

1. (intransitive) To make a slight sound like that of metal objects touching.

   The coins were chinking in his pocket.

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

   (Can we find and add a quotation of Alexander Pope to this entry?)

chink (plural chinks)

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

chink (third-person singular simple present chinks, present participle chinking, simple past and past participle chinked)

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

chink (plural chinks)

1. Alternative form of Chink

• Hinck, Kinch