I. ˈchiŋk noun
( -s )
Etymology: probably alteration of Middle English chin, chine crack, fissure, chasm
1.
a. : an opening, space, break, or hole typically of greater length than breadth (as between planks in a wall) : crack , crevice , cranny , interstice
b. : a means of evasion or escape : loophole : a weak spot (as in a plan or system)
he was indicted but his lawyers found a chink in the law
2. : something used to fill a chink ; specifically : a strip of wood used to close the crevice between adjoining logs in a log cabin
3. : a beam of light of similar form to or perceived through a chink
4. or chink shell : any of several gastropod mollusks:
a. : keyhole limpet
b. : any of a family (Lacunidae) of conical thin-shelled marine snails having a slit on the columella opposite the aperture
Synonyms: see crack
II. verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
intransitive verb
obsolete : to open in cracks : crack
transitive verb
1. obsolete : to cause to open in cracks : crack
2. : to fill the chinks of (as by caulking) : stop up
chink and daub a log cabin
III. noun
( -s )
Etymology: imitative
1. : a short sharp sound (as of metal or small sonorous bodies struck with a slight tap)
2.
a. chinks plural , obsolete : pieces of money : coins
b. slang : coin , money , cash
IV. verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
intransitive verb
: to make a slight sharp metallic sound (as of coins or glasses in collision) : strike or strike together with a chink
the sound … of chinking china — Nancy Hale
transitive verb
: to cause (as coins) to make a chink
V. intransitive verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: perhaps from (assumed) Middle English chinken; akin to Middle English kinken to gasp convulsively, Old English cincung hearty laughter, obsolete Dutch kincken to pant, Middle High German kīchen to breathe heavily, probably of imitative origin
dialect England : to catch one's breath : gasp convulsively
VI. noun
( -s )
Etymology: imitative
1. : chaffinch
2. : reed bunting
VII. noun
( -s )
Usage: often capitalized
Etymology: alteration (probably influenced by chink small cleft) of Chinese; from their slant eyes
: chinese — usually taken to be offensive